Forever Young completed his final major workout at Keeneland ahead of the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, Daily Racing Form reported on 28 October 2026. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi watched the defending champion exercise alongside stablemate American Stage.
Yahagi watches final Keeneland breeze
Forever Young began the half-mile breeze behind American Stage, who is entered for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Jockey Rusei Sakai allowed the Classic runner to close on his work partner towards the home straight. Daily Racing Form’s trackside clocker reported that neither horse was asked for its best effort, with American Stage holding a slight advantage as they continued past the finish.
Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young’s trainer, said through an interpreter: “This was a perfect gallop.” He added that the horse was moving well and that he was satisfied with the session. His reaction followed a Jockey Club Gold Cup victory that had left him less satisfied with the performance, according to Daily Racing Form’s interview.
Yahagi had returned to Japan after the Gold Cup while Forever Young continued training in New York. Assistant Yuki Araki worked with the horse there, and the stable’s reports to Yahagi were positive. Daily Racing Form also recorded timed workouts in New York before the move to Keeneland. The Keeneland breeze completed the horse’s major preparation for the title defence.
Classic defence and an open future
Forever Young won the previous Classic, and Daily Racing Form identifies Tiznow as the last horse to win the race twice. The defending champion therefore has a chance to match a rare achievement. The final workout confirms the end of his main training programme; it does not settle the result against the other Classic runners.
Forever Young’s longer-term programme remains open. Yahagi told Daily Racing Form that he and owner Susumu Fujita had not decided whether Forever Young would retire after the Breeders’ Cup or continue racing, potentially towards another Saudi Cup. The Classic is the confirmed next assignment.
What the workout changes before Keeneland
- Forever Young reaches the Classic after completing the final major workout described by his trainer and Daily Racing Form.
- American Stage has a separate Sprint entry, placing the two work partners in different championship races.
- A successful defence would make Forever Young the first repeat Classic winner since Tiznow, according to Daily Racing Form.
Classic card confirms the next race
SportsRivo checked Equibase’s Keeneland card: it lists the Classic as the final race, on dirt, with an estimated evening start. Equibase lists 31 October 2026 as race day and 6:16 p.m. ET as the estimated post time. The entry card is the confirmed schedule for the next sporting test; it remains subject to race-day changes.
Source: Daily Racing Form