Japanese superstar Forever Young is heavily favored to win the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 18, 2026, as Belmont Park reopens its historic grounds. Two late scratches have shortened his odds further, leaving Phileas Fogg as the sole early pace rival in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifier.
When New York racing enters a modern era on September 18, 2026, the centerpiece of the opening card at the remodeled Belmont Park brings international star power back to the track. The historic Queens and Nassau border venue opens its gates following a renovation that replaced its massive 1960s grandstand with a streamlined, glass-enclosed structure. Racing at the track resumes 1,167 days after its last card on July 9, 2023, before construction began.
At the top of the opening-day card is the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 1 1/4-mile test that offers a fees-paid berth into the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland.
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Scratches Remake the Gold Cup Field for Forever Young
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Two late scratch announcements on Tuesday reshaped the race and shortened the odds for the defending champion. Banishing and Chunk of Gold, both initially listed at 12-1 on the morning line, withdrew from the Grade 1 event, leaving just five rivals to face the Japanese star, according to Daily Racing Form.
David Jacobson, trainer of Banishing, explained the decision to reroute his charge to the Grade 2, $500,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on September 26. Why run against the second-best horse in our lifetime? Secretariat’s the best and he’s got to be right in behind him,
Jacobson said, praising the training behind the 5-year-old champion.
“Those guys do an amazing job, the management and training, the horse hardly runs and he runs lights-out every time. Why run against him when I’ve got a better spot where I’ll be first or second choice.?”
David Jacobson, Trainer
Chunk of Gold, who was supplemented when entries were taken, also scratched to target the Lukas Classic. Trainer Ethan West informed the New York Racing Association that logistical issues weren’t working out in our favor to get up there, so we decided to go with our original plan,
Daily Racing Form reported.
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Yoshito Yahagi Brings International Star Back to New York
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Forever Young enters the starting gate as the reigning Eclipse Award Champion Older Dirt Male and Japanese Horse of the Year. The son of Real Steel has earned $31.7 million while winning 11 of 15 career starts. His resume includes a half-length victory over Sierra Leone in the previous year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.
 "Photo: DRF")
It is also a great honor to run in New York at this very memorable time, coinciding with the reopening of the historic Belmont Park racetrack.
The 5-year-old arrived in New York following an active campaign that featured a victory in the Saudi Cup and a runner-up finish behind Magnitude in the March 28 Dubai World Cup. The Jockey Club Gold Cup serves as his first race in 5 1/2 months and acts as a direct prep for the World Championships at Keeneland.
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Phileas Fogg Emerges as Sole Speed Rival
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With the departure of the pace-pressing scratch entries, Phileas Fogg stands as the lone early speed runner in the race under jockey Kendrick Carmouche. The 6-year-old gelded son of Astern arrives following a 10-length front-running victory in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 4 at Saratoga Race Course.
Trainer Gustavo Rodriguez expressed confidence in his runner despite the step up in class against the international champion. I think (the 2026 Suburban) was probably his best race ever, that’s my opinion.
We love the way he is coming into this race.
That horse (Forever Young) is a very, very nice horse. He can run anywhere. He doesn’t need one track, he’s been traveling all around the world, and every time he runs, he runs good. He’s a nice horse, but we are going to run and hope for the best,
Rodriguez added.
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Baeza and Stablemates Complete the Opening Day Field
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Trainer Bill Mott maintains two chances in the race following the absence of 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, who missed the race due to an ill-timed abscess. Mott saddles Baeza and Stars and Stripes for C R K Stable. Baeza, a 4-year-old son of McKinzie, won the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby but has been hampered by gate habits throughout the year.
He’s a smart horse and hopefully it will be the case that he does break good.
Rounding out the entrants are Stars and Stripes, coming off a nose victory in the Birdstone Stakes, and Render Judgment, who finished as runner-up in an allowance test at Saratoga. The race goes as the fifth event on a 10-race card starting at 1:30 p.m., with an approximate post time of 4:15 p.m. and a live broadcast scheduled on FOX beginning at 3 p.m.
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