By admin 
Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young (JPN), the reigning champion oIder dirt male, returned to serious preparations for the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) with an open gallop Sunday over the Belmont Park main track.
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Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, the 5-year-old Real Steel horse captured the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on September 18 at Belmont in his first start since a runner-up effort in the Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.
Forever Young was piloted in his Sunday morning exercise by assistant trainer Yuki Araki, timed from the three-eighths by NYRA Clockers in :15 3/5, :31 1/5 and :45 4/5.
“I just wanted to feel the horse when he goes even pace. I’m happy with it,” Araki said.
Forever Young posted a sharper breeze ahead of his Jockey Club Gold Cup score, covering five furlongs in 1:02.17. Araki noted that Forever Young will have two more local works before shipping to Keeneland on October 20.
“We have plenty of time for Breeders’ Cup, so we didn’t want a strong breeze this morning,” Araki said. “It was a new challenge [ahead of the Gold Cup], so we gave him a very strong breeze before the race. Obviously, it was five months after the Dubai World Cup, so we wanted him to breeze out. This time [today] was quite different because he ran one race already and fitness should be [good] enough. I’m happy with it.”
While Forever Young exercised on the main track, his stablemate Shin Emperor utilized the walking machine and enjoyed a pick of grass while attended to by his exercise rider Yuto Kumagai.
Araki said Forever Young has exited the Jockey Club Gold Cup in good order and had plenty of energy after the strong gallop.
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“Oh yes, I’ve been holding hard,” Araki said, with a laugh. “Maybe his motion is slower than you guys expected, but the thing is, the gap is a very good thing. I felt the pace was even. More than that, I checked the video, and it looks like a normal gallop. I’m really satisfied.
“The strongest one will be before we move to Keeneland,” Araki added, regarding upcoming works. “We keep focusing on that. “
Forever Young cooled out in his customary fashion since arriving in New York with multiple laps along the treelined horse path adjacent to the main track before bath time and a pick of grass.
Forever Young, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, has made 16 starts across 10 racetracks in four countries, posting additional top-flight scores in back-to-back editions of the $20 million Saudi Cup in 2025-26 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, and the 2024 Tokyo Daishoten in his native country, where he is undefeated through six efforts.
Araki has utilized much of the expansive Belmont Park training facility, including the inner Tapeta track, dirt training track and the quarter-mile Tapeta pony track.
“We always want to change his mind in a better way, so we change the track and let him see a different view and atmosphere. I think it’s going well so far,” Araki said.
Forever Young has banked in excess of $32.3 million through a 12-1-3 record from 16 starts.
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This story was originally published October 4, 2026 at 11:41 AM.