Kentucky dreaming? Forever Young rallies, wins Saudi Derby

Undefeated Japan colt Forever Younggot off to a slowstart, came from far back at the top of the 550-yard homestretch and reeled inBook’em Danno to win by a head Saturday in the Grade 3, $1.5 million Saudi Derby, a one-turn dirt mile on the Saudi Cup undercard.

The win may have been a step toward Kentucky Derby 2024, according to winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Circa Sports in Las Vegas responded, shortening Forever Young from 22-1 to 12-1 in its futures for the May 4 classic at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Susumu Fujita, ForeverYoung (3-5) was ridden down the middle of the stretch by Ryusei Sakai, making upground with every stride. Book’em Danno (4-1), who contested the early pace andturned into the stretch with the lead, was laboring late under Irad Ortiz Jr.

“He didn’t have a good start.” Yahagi said. “He was wide out and it was a tough race, but he ended up winning, so we are very satisfied. He didn’t like the kickback, so the jockey kept him wide out. Still, he had a very good performance, so I’m very happy about that.”

Book’em Danno, the winner of the Pasco Stakes last month atTampa Bay Downs, finished second by six lengths and ran his record to 6: 4-2-0.Bentornato (16-1), a three-time winner of minor stakes at Gulfstream Park, finishedthird. Ajwadi (45-1) came in fourth, Mashhur (78-1) fifth and Salam Alkhair (38-1) sixth in thefield of 12 3-year-olds.

The winning time was 1:36.17 without a run-up for the 1,600meters, or 10 yards short of a full mile. The win was the third in the race for Japan, following Full Flat in 2020 and Pink Kamehameha a year later.

Winning connections were widely expected to send ForeverYoung, a colt by Real Steel, to the March 30 running of the UAE Derby (G2), a win-and-you’re-in qualifierfor the Kentucky Derby. Yahagi confirmed these intentions after the Saudi Derby.

“We will first head to the UAE Derby before hopefully the Kentucky Derby,” Yahagi said.

“He tried very hard, he knows everything about what to do, he’s a special horse,” Sakai said. “I was very confident coming into the race but it was a tougher race because the runner-up was tough and running really well. I was worried but we finished very strongly. He hasn’t fully matured but he is improving now.

“At the final turn I was very confident and I trusted my horse so I just urged him very strongly to the line. I have been riding him since his debut and my master Yahagi and I hope he can have more and more experience overseas and I can learn a lot from him.”

Derek Ryan, trainer of second-place Book'em Danno, intends to keep his charge going shorter than the classic distance. “We'll probably ship him back to the states, and probably go for the Pat Day Mile,” Ryan said in an interview with Racing TV after the Saudi Derby.