DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Forever Young beat defending champion Sierra Leone by a half-length to win the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday at Del Mar, giving Japan a victory in North America's richest race.
Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, Forever Young ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.19 and paid $9 to win at 7-2 odds. The colt was third in last year's Classic behind Sierra Leone and Fierceness.
The race lost Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty when
the colt was scratched after spiking a fever earlier in the week.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi earned his third career Cup victory, while Sakai claimed his first.
“Forever Young is an amazing horse,” Yahagi said through a translator.
Fierceness was third and Preakness winner Journalism was fourth. Mindframe finished fifth, followed by Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian and Contrary Thinking.
Forever Young increased his career earnings to $19,358,590, with 10 wins in 13 starts.
In Saturday's other races:
— Ireland-bred Ethical Diamond won the $5 million Turf by 1 1/4 lengths and paid $57.40 to win.
— Splendora roared past her favored stablemate Hope Road at the top of the stretch for a four-length victory in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint. Trainer Bob Baffert earned his 20th career Cup victory.
— Shisospicy won the $1 million Turf Sprint by two lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr.
— Bentornato scored a two-length victory in the $2 million Sprint after finishing second last year. Ortiz earned his second Cup win of the day and 23rd in his career.
— Scylla won the $2 million Distaff by five lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
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AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
