After a strong third-place finish in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Forever Young finally achieved his first Grade 1 victory in the Tokyo Daishoten at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo. This victory marks a major milestone for the 3-year-old colt, who has shown promise throughout his career, including his impressive third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Let’s take a closer look at Forever Young’s big win and what’s next for this talented horse.
A Big Win in Tokyo
Forever Young, who is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, took charge in the final stretch of the Tokyo Daishoten, a Grade 1 race on dirt that spans 1 1/4 miles. He was the favorite for the race, with odds of 1-5. The colt raced in second place for most of the race, staying about three lengths behind the early leader, Crown Pride. However, when Crown Pride began to fade near the end of the race, Forever Young took advantage and surged ahead.
In the final stretch, Forever Young showed his strength and stamina, keeping a comfortable lead to finish 1 3/4 lengths ahead of his competitors. Wilson Tesoro finished in second, while Ramjet came in third. Forever Young’s victory time was 2:04.9, with the race being held on a fast, sand-and-dirt track.
Forever Young’s Journey So Far
This victory is especially sweet for Forever Young, who had previously come close to winning the Kentucky Derby, finishing third by just a head. Before that, he had already shown his skill by winning the Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2). Despite being a consistent contender, Forever Young had not yet earned a Grade 1 win. His Tokyo Daishoten victory now marks the high point of his career so far.
Forever Young is a son of Real Steel, a well-known stallion, and was bred by Northern Racing in Japan. His dam, Forever Darling, is a Kentucky-bred mare. After being bought for $720,603 at a yearling sale, he’s more than proven his worth, with earnings of $4,301,044 from 9 career races, where he has finished 7-0-2.
What’s Next for Forever Young?
After his exciting victory, Forever Young’s team has big plans for the future. His next targets include some of the richest races in the world: the Saudi Cup (G1), with a purse of $20 million, and the Dubai World Cup (G1), which offers a prize of $12 million. These races will take place in early 2025 and will provide Forever Young with more opportunities to showcase his talent on a global stage.
Forever Young’s victory in the Tokyo Daishoten is a significant achievement in his racing career. After missing out on winning the Kentucky Derby by a small margin and competing strongly in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he now has his first Grade 1 win to add to his growing list of accomplishments. As he prepares for the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup in 2025, fans will be eager to see how this young colt continues to develop and rise to the top of the racing world.
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