Japan Dirt Classic

Making his first start in his home country since last December and racing for the first time since finishing a tough-luck third to Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and his family relation 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Kentucky Derby, Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) cemented his status as one of the favorites for the Nov. 2 GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a tough victory in the $817,292 Listed Japan Dirt Classic at Ohi Racecourse Wednesday evening. Sent off the $1.70 (7-10) favorite despite the...

Japan's top two older dirt horses, Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), were on trial for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last Wednesday, finishing second and fifth, respectively, in the Listed Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Race Track. The country's most-accomplished 3-year-old is Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who preps for a likely appearance at Del Mar in just over four weeks' time in Wednesday's final leg of the Japanese dirt Triple Crown, the $828,597 Listed Japan Dirt Classic at Ohi Racecourse. A...