2025 Race Results: Forever Young Conquers the Breeders’ Cup Classic in a Historic First for Japan

November 2, 2025

On November 2, 2025, at Del Mar Racetrack, Japan’s Forever Young, ridden by Ryusei Sakai, achieved a stunning victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). This is a historic first for a Japanese-trained horse. This article provides a detailed account of the historic race, the full finishing order, and the joyful comments from the connections.

Key Takeaways

• Japan’s Forever Young became the first-ever Japanese-trained horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
• Last year’s winner, Sierra Leone, finished second, with Fierceness in third, marking a dramatic clash between the previous year’s top three finishers.
• Forever Young ran a commanding race from a favorable position, taking the lead at the fourth turn and holding it to the finish.
• Trainer Yoshito Yahagi expressed the magnitude of the victory, saying, “It feels like the Japanese national team winning the World Cup.”

Breeders’ Cup Classic 2025 Race Results

Japan’s Forever Young has etched his name in history by winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the world’s premier dirt race. Avenging last year’s defeat, he has claimed the title of world champion. The defending champion, Sierra Leone, made a furious late charge to finish second.

*For results beyond 3rd place, please refer to the official announcements.

Race Recap and Highlights

We look back at a race defined by the anticipated pacemaker and the intense battle for position among the contenders.

From the Start to the Mid-stretch

As the gates opened, Forever Young broke well. As widely expected, No. 4 Contrarythinking took the lead and set the pace. Forever Young settled into a perfect position on the outside in second, with No. 1 Fierceness running alongside on the rail. No. 8 Mindframe also joined the leading group as they headed into the backstretch.

The Battle from the Final Turn to the Finish Line

From the third to the fourth turn, the field began to make their moves. Forever Young advanced with impressive momentum, surging to the lead as they rounded the final turn. Entering the home stretch, he extended his lead to two lengths, attempting to pull away from the pack. However, from behind, last year’s champion, No. 7 Sierra Leone, launched a powerful late run. The gap closed in the final moments, but Forever Young’s stride never faltered, and he held on to cross the finish line in first, sealing a historic victory.

Comments from Connections

After the race, the victorious connections were overcome with joy.

Jockey Ryusei Sakai: “It feels like a dream. Forever Young has performed all over the world; he’s a true superstar. I want to thank everyone who supported us.”

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi: “We prepared him to a point where if we lost this time, there would be no more chances. This is an unbelievable achievement for Japanese horse racing. It feels like the Japanese national team winning the World Cup in soccer. We did it!”

Full Field of Entrants

This is the list of horses that competed in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Source: netkeiba.com