Forever Young (JPN)

Forever Young emerged as the leading international contender for the 2024 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve during by winning his first three races in his native Japan as a 2-year-old in 2023, including two stakes, and then shipping to Saudi Arabia and rallying to win the Boutique Group Saudi Derby on Feb. 24 by a head over U.S.-based Book’em Danno.

The Real Steel colt then contested the United Arab Emirates Derby March 30 at Meydan Racecourse. He drew the far outside post but was given a patient ride by jockey Ryusei Sakai and stalked the pace in fifth through the backstretch before moving up in the far turn. After finding clear running room, Forever Young rallied strongly in the stretch to pass Auto Bahn and win going away by two lengths. He earned 100 qualifying points for the May 4 Kentucky Derby with the victory.

Forever Young came to Churchill Downs to make his first U.S. start in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on May 4. He was sent off as the third choice on the tote board in the field of 20. After racing near the rear of the field in the early stages of the race, Forever Young launched a rally on the final turn and continued to close throughout the stretch alongside Sierra Leone while bothered by that rival repeatedly in the final furlong. At the wire, Forever Young lost a three-way win photo by a nose and settled for an unlucky third.

After the Kentucky Derby,  Forever Young was away from racing for five months, and returned to post an easy win in the Japan Dirt Classic in his home country. That set him up for a return to the U.S., where he started in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Breaking from the inside post, Forever Young stalked a fast early pace and closed with interest, but settled for third behind U.S.-based 3-year-olds Sierra Leone and Fierceness.