Globetrotting superstar Forever Young arrived from Japan at the new Belmont Park in the early hours Tuesday morning, and cleared quarantine on Thursday to make his first appearance over the main track around 10:40 A.M. as he prepares for the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Friday, September 18.
Following a three-year project to transform Belmont Park into a world-class sports and entertainment destination, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will celebrate a new era on Friday, September 18, with a live racing program anchored by the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
To help unveil the new Belmont Park to a national audience on September 18, FOX will present live coverage of the Jockey Club Gold Cup as part of its Belmont Park: Return to Racing telecast to air from 3-4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi for Susumu Fujita, Forever Young was accompanied to the track by Group 2-winning stablemate Shin Emperor, who is targeting a start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on September 26 at Belmont Park. Forever Young strolled around the clubhouse turn to make his way onto the backstretch before breaking off into a leisurely gallop once around under assistant trainer Yuki Araki.
Hiroshi Ando, stable manager for Fujita, said he was pleased with the way the 5-year-old son of Real Steel emerged from his travels.
"He loves America and he knows it," Ando said. "We tried to go back to his normal routine because we had to have a 42-hour quarantine and cannot do too much exercise, so today is a free day for him. We plan to breeze him on Tuesday with jockey Ryusei Sakai."
Forever Young will make his first outing in New York in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 10-furlong route for 3-year-olds and up which provides a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.
"He knows how to travel on a long flight," Ando said. "Obviously, he's good at that and we are very satisfied with how he got here. Mr. Yahagi and me visited last month to check the track, and we are amazed at the new grandstand and track. It was great conditions, so it is positive for us to come."
Forever Young has made three previous starts in the U.S., finishing third in the 2024 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby en route to a third-place finish in that year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Last year, Forever Young would not be denied victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, posting a half-length score over familiar foe Sierra Leone at Del Mar.
Forever Young, the reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and Eclipse Award-winner as Champion Older Dirt Male, successfully defended his title in the Group 1 Saudi Cup in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse and was last seen finishing second to Magnitude in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.
Entries for the Jockey Club Gold Cup will be taken on Saturday, September 12.
Others currently possible for the Jockey Club Gold Cup include 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, who is battling a foot abscess; multiple Grade 1-winning multimillionaire Nitrogen, who earned Eclipse Award honors last year as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly; Group 2 Godolphin Mile-winner Banishing; dual Grade 2-winner Phileas Fogg; dual graded stakes-winner Willy D's; multiple graded stakes-placed Yo Daddy; and Grade 3-placed Money Game.
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