Edited Press ReleaseSusumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), the reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and Eclipse Award-winner as Champion Older Dirt Horse, worked a solo five-eighths over the Belmont Park main track Tuesday in preparation for Friday's $1 million GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, which is now down to five entrants.On Tuesday morning, a NYRA press release said that Banishing (Ghostzapper) will bypass the big race and point to Churchill Downs's GII Lukas Classic or GIII Ack Ack Stakes. Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) plans to try the Lukas Classic next.Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young left his barn at 6 a.m. Eastern with jockey Ryusei Sakai in the irons and traveled through the tunnel to the Tapeta track in company with Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who was in rein to assistant trainer Yuki Araki. Both horses completed a warm up lap over the Tapeta before traveling to the main track.The 5-year-old picked up to a canter on the backstretch with NYRA clockers catching the bay building up his speed during the breeze through splits of 14 3/5, 28 1/5, 40 2/5, 50 2/5 and completing five-eighths in 1:02.17.Hiroshi Ando, racing manager for Susumu Fujita, said he was pleased with the morning exercise.FOREVER YOUNG out on the track at @BelmontPark1905 this morning ahead of Friday's G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup! pic.twitter.com/fPnrdATcAc— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) September 15, 2026“We did our warm up on the Tapeta and then to the main track to work five-eighths and see how the horse feels,” Hiroshi said. “In the last part of the work we wanted him to pick it up – blow out–because he didn't run in six months. That was at the trainer's request, and I think he's done that well. That's why we started in 14 and 3 and then get quicker and build up. I think he had a very good finish – strong–that's what we wanted. It seems like he did it so easy.”Ryusei, who has piloted Forever Young through each of his 15 career starts, said his mount seems to be finding another gear in 2026.“He enjoyed the track and handled it well. It seems like he's very happy to run here, so I'm quite happy for that,” said Ryusei, with Hiroshi acting as his interpreter. “He's a Breeders' Cup Classic winner last year and a Champion horse, that's why he's quicker [at the end]. He has a big gear.“He's getting taller,” Ryusei added. “I thought his peak was last year, but still he was hiding his peak and now he's improving more than compared to last year.”Both Forever Young and Shin Emperor cooled out in their customary fashion since arriving in New York with multiple laps along the horse path adjacent to the main track before bath time and a pick of grass.Hiroshi said the positive experience thus far at new Belmont bodes well for international visitors next year when the track hosts the Breeders' Cup.“Not only for us, but I think the whole Japan team will like this Tapeta,” Hiroshi said. “It's an amazing surface for us to train on, nice and smooth. Forever Young has adapted really well. We're really satisfied. There are a lot of options for us with training here at Belmont. It's very good for us and we try to do everything we can for Forever Young. I think our preparation is going very well.”Join @_RYUSEI_0531 aboard FOREVER YOUNG for his final gallop at @BelmontPark1905 before the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup! pic.twitter.com/lbZBt4sCIm— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) September 15, 2026The post Forever Young Continues Belmont Drills, Jockey Club Field Down To Five appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.