Some handicappers believe that the best 3-year-old colt to race this year in America lives in Japan. Could be, because despite a slow start and constant interference by Sierra Leone through the stretch, Forever Young fell only two noses short of winning the Kentucky Derby.

That’s his only loss in seven starts, and he’s a major player in the Classic. He cruised by 1¼ lengths Oct. 2 in the 1¼-mile Japan Dirt Classic, his first run since the Derby.

After the race, jockey Ryusei Sakai said: “I felt true frustration after the race in America in the spring, so I’m eager to get my revenge and show everyone a stronger Forever Young. I want to win the next race in America.”

It would help if Forever Young broke his habit of breaking badly. For the third consecutive race, he had a misstep at the start of the Japan Dirt Classic, but Sakai was able to recover and stalk the pace in second. Against world-class opponents City of Troy and Fierceness, Forever Young might not get away with that kind of mistake.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said Forever Young was only 80% fit after a five-month break. “He was so tired after the Kentucky Derby that he needed time to recover,” he said after the prep race.

He’ll be fully cranked this time.

Betting advice: Forever Young is one of the likeliest Classic winners because he’s proven at 1¼ miles in top company. His biggest rivals may have question marks, because City of Troy is untested on dirt and Fierceness, despite his Travers win, probably prefers 1 1/8 miles. Bet him to win.

Post position: TBD

Odds: TBD

Jockey: Ryusei Sakai

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi

Owner: Susumu Fujita

Career record: 7-6-0-1

Career earnings: $2,984,668

Age: 3

Last race: Japan Dirt Classic (1^st), Oi Racecourse, Oct. 2

Top Equibase speed figure: 110

Pedigree: Real Steel-Forever Darling, by Congrats

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker/closer

Notes: Yoshito Yahagi is the only Japanese trainer to win at the Breeders’ Cup, taking the Distaff (with 49-1 shot Marche Lorraine) and the Filly & Mare Turf (Loves Only You) in 2021 at Del Mar. He also swept the 2020 Japanese Triple Crown with Contrail … He’s a character known for his large collection of colorful hats … Forever Young is a grandson of Hall of Famer Sunday Silence, who in 1989 won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic.