Forever Young and jockey Ryusei Sakai are pictured at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 25, 2026, three days before the Dubai World Cup. (©SANKEI by Katsumi Saito)
After a long layoff, Forever Young is returning to competition.
The Japan Racing Association's 2025 Horse of the Year is set to race in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 18 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Yahagi Stable made an announcement on social media on Sunday, June 21.
In his last start, Forever Young was the runner-up in the Dubai World Cup, contested over 2,000 meters on dirt at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28.
A two-time winner of the 1,800-meter Saudi Cup, including on February 14, Forever Young has 11 victories in 15 career races.
Forever Young's Belmont Park debut is set for the suburban New York track's opening-day card for 2026. Belmont Park has been closed since July 2023 while undergoing renovations.
Forever Young to Vie for a 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic Title
In the Yahagai Stable announcement, trainer Yoshito Yahagi said he had held discussions with owner Susumi Fujita concerning "the horse’s condition" before finalizing plans for him to compete in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic on October 31.
Forever Young, a 5-year-old grandson of the late Deep Impact, is the defending champion in the Breeders' Cup Classic. On November 1, 2025, the Real Steel progeny, ridden by Ryusei Sakai, beat Sierra Leone by a half-length in Del Mar, California.
The 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic on Halloween will be held at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Golf
Yamashita Wins Meijer LPGA Classic in Playoff
Miyuu Yamashita carded an 8-under 64 in the final round, the best 18-hole score of the Meijer LPGA Classic, then defeated England's Lottie Woad in a one-hole playoff on Sunday, June 21.
In Belmont, Michigan, Yamashita trailed Chinese leader Jing Yan by five strokes heading into the final round. But Yamashita, the two-time season champion on the JLPGA Tour (2022, '23), had a stellar start to the final round. She sank birdies on four of her first five holes.
On the front nine, Yamashita shot a 31, putting her in position to contend for the title at Blythefield Country Club.
Yamashita also birdied the 10th, 11th, 13th and 18th holes. She had her lone bogey of the day on the par-4 15th.
The playoff began and ended on the par-5 18th, with Yamashita making a birdie putt for the win and Woad settling for par.
"I was able to put together a solid round, and it all felt pretty natural out there," Yamashita said through an interpreter, according to LPGA.com. "Lottie played really well too. I honestly didn't expect it to end up in a playoff."
A Satisfying Feat on Father's Day
Yamashita was delighted to capture the third LPGA Tour of her career, and her first of 2026, on Father's Day.
"Our whole team has been working hard together throughout the season, and this feels like a result of that effort," Yamashita told reporters. "I really wanted to win on this special day. That gave me a little extra motivation out there and helped drive me throughout the round.
"I am incredibly grateful to my family for all the support they give me every day. This win is just as much for them as it is for me."
Also for Japan, Minami Katsu tied for seventh at 13-under 275 and Rio Takeda tied for 10th at 11-under 277.
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Boxing
Fight Tripleheader Set for July 20 in Tokyo
Riku Masuda and Daigo Higa will step into the ring for the main event of a July 20 boxing tripleheader at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The fight lineup was announced on June 19.
Masuda (10-1, nine knockouts) and Higa (21-3-3, 19 KOs) are set to clash in a 12-round bantamweight bout.
A Hiroshima native, Masuda had an eighth-round technical knockout victory over Filipino Nonito Donaire on March 15 in Yokohama.
Higa, who said he was retiring after his second consecutive draw (against Antonio Vargas in July 2025), recently launched his comeback.
"I realized that boxing is my true calling after all, so I have returned," the 30-year-old said, according to the Boxing News website. "My apologies. [And] moving forward, I want to continue competing for as long as I am able to."
Looking ahead to his showdown with Higa, Masuda predicted it would be "an entertaining fight."
Masuda also pointed out some of the focal points of his preparations for the fight.
"Everyone is aware of his left straight, which demands caution," Masuda was quoted as saying by Boxing News. "He also utilizes his right lead effectively to set traps."
On the undercard, Kenshiro Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs) and Mexico's Israel Gonzalez (35-2-2, 12 KOs) will vie for the vacant WBO super flyweight belt.
Also, WBC light flyweight champ Shokichi Iwata (16-2, 13 KOs) will meet Mexican challenger Erik Badillo (19-0, eight KOs).
Iwata claimed the world title via an eighth-round stoppage of Knockout CP Freshmart (given name Thammanoon Niyomtrong) on March 15 in Yokohama.
Baseball
Eagles Earn 1st Victory Under New Manager Yoshii
The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles defeated the Saitama Seibu Lions 8-7 in 12 innings on Monday, June 22. At Tokyo Dome, new Eagles manager Masato Yoshii earned his first victory in a Rakuten uniform.
Yoshii's Eagles had lost his first two games as the new skipper.
With two outs and a runner on second, Fumiya Kurokawa, who went 1-for-5, stroked a walk-off single in the 12th inning off Lions reliever Taiga Ueda.
The Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak.
"I really think the players gave it their all today," Yoshii said, according to Nikkan Sports before adding, "I just tried not to get in the way. This win belongs to them."
Yoshii described the team's effort by saying, "they fought tenaciously."
The Eagles, who are in last place in NPB's Pacific League, improved to 24-42-1.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
