Forever Together (USA)
April 12, 2004 – Living
Belong to Me (USA) x Constant Companion (USA), by Relaunch (USA)
American Family 29
April 12, 2004 – Living
Belong to Me (USA) x Constant Companion (USA), by Relaunch (USA)
American Family 29
Forever Together was a good racer on dirt but proved a much better one on turf after being switched in response to nagging physical problems and a resentment of the kickback on dirt. A come-from-behind runner who became a crowd favorite due to her closing kick and her gray color, she was the first Breeders’ Cup winner for the popular owner-and-trainer team of George Strawbridge and Jonathan Sheppard.
Race record
26 starts, 9 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds, US$2,957,639
2007:
2008:
2009:
2010:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf female (2008)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2008 Longines World Thoroughbred Rankings, 12 pounds below overall hightweight Curlin (the American Horse of the Year) and 10 pounds below the top turf female, Zarkava (the European Horse of the Year).
Rated at 117 pounds in the Mile category on the 2009 Longines World Thoroughbred Rankings, 19 pounds below overall highweight Sea the Stars (the European Horse of the Year) and 13 pounds below Goldikova (the European champion older horse).
As an individual
A long-limbed gray mare, Forever Together has a deep girth, prominent withers, and strong quarters. She is somewhat upright in her pasterns and her hocks are a little out behind her. Like many fillies and mares, she tended to tuck up when in hard training and racing. She could deliver a powerful closing kick. She was a quirky horse to train and would sometimes balk and stop in mid-gallop while exercising.
As a producer
As of October 25, 2024, Forever Together has produced eight named foals, of which seven have started and five have won. Her best runner has been the Grade 3-placed Smart Strike mare Truly Together, now the dam of 2024 bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes (CAN-G2) winner Mouffy (by Uncle Mo) and 2024 Hpibet Singspiel Stakes (CAN-G3) winner Truly Quality (by Quality Road).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Forever Together was bred by White Fox Farm. She was owned by George W. Strawbridge Jr.'s Augustin Stables after being purchased for US$240,000 from the 2006 Ocala Breeders’ Sales spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. She was trained by Jonathan Sheppard and was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf by Julien Leparoux.
Pedigree notes
Sired by multiple Grade 3 winner Belong to Me (by Danzig), Forever Together is outcrossed through five generations. She is out of unraced Constant Companion, a half sister to 1996 Fort Lauderdale Handicap (USA-G3) winner Winged Victory (by Nijinsky II) and stakes winners Service Stripe (by Deputy Minister), Where’s the Ring (by Seeking the Gold), and Puzzled Look (by Gulch). Constant Companion is also a half sister to stakes-placed Wedded Bliss (by His Majesty), dam of listed stakes winners Wedlock (by Maria’s Mon) and Ever After (by Kris S.) and stakes winner Extrovert (by Wild Again) and second dam of 2020 Robert Sangster Classic Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Bella Vella. In addition, Constant Companion is a half sister to Wedding Vow (by Nijinsky II), dam of 2001 Philip H. Iselin Handicap (USA-G2) winner and successful sire Broken Vow (by Unbridled) and multiple stakes winner Threshold (by Homebuilder) and third dam of Grade 3 winner and stakes-winning steeplechaser Abaan. Finally, Constant Companion is a half sister to With This Ring (by Green Dancer), dam of 2004 Nearctic Handicap (CAN-G2) winner I Thee Wed (by Affirmed).
Constant Companion is out of listed stakes winner Wedding Picture (by Blushing Groom), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Tonka Wakhan (by Big Spruce) and to Strike a Balance (by Green Dancer), dam of 1995 Canadian Horse of the Year Peaks and Valleys (by Mt. Livermore) and multiple listed stakes winner Alternate (by Seattle Slew) and second dam of 2019 $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Higher Power, Grade 2 winners Alternation and Eleusis, and Grade 3 winners Cryptograph and Equality. Wedding Picture is also a half sister to Vogueing (by Rare Brick), dam of 2000 What a Pleasure Stakes (USA-G3) winner Radical Riley (by Wheaton).
The next dam in Forever Together’s female line, Strike a Pose (by Iron Ruler x Take a Stand, by Amerigo), is a stakes-placed half sister to 1975 Prix de Conde (FR-G3) winner French Friend (by Herbager) and multiple stakes winner Stage Luck (by Stage Door Johnny). The last-named mare is the dam of two-time American champion Open Mind (by Deputy Minister) and listed stakes winners Stage Door Avie (by Lord Avie) and Shaiba (by Alysheba) and is also the second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Caseal Ros.
Books and media
Footage of Forever Together’s win in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YKGVCLzi9s.
Fun facts
Last updated: October 26, 2024
Race record
26 starts, 9 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds, US$2,957,639
2007:
- Won Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sprint S. (USA-R, 6FD, Ocala Training Center)
- 2nd Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (USA-G2, about 7FA, Keeneland)
- 3rd Corrie Ann Stakes (USA-N, 7FD, Calder)
2008:
- Won Emirates Airlines Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1, 10FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Diana Stakes (USA-G1, 9FT, Saratoga)
- Won First Lady Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Keeneland)
- Won Reluctant Guest Stakes (USA, 8FT, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Just a Game Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Canadian Stakes (CAN-G2, 9FT, Woodbine)
2009:
- Won Diana Stakes (USA-G1. 9FT, Saratoga)
- Won Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Keeneland)
- 2nd Just a Game Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Canadian Stakes (CAN-G2, @9FT, Woodbine)
- 3rd First Lady Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Keeneland)
- 3rd Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1, 10FT, Santa Anita)
2010:
- 2nd Gamely Stakes (USA-G1, 9FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Keeneland)
- 3rd Diana Stakes (USA-G1, 9FT, Saratoga)
- 3rd Glens Falls Handicap (USA-G3, 11FT, Saratoga)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf female (2008)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2008 Longines World Thoroughbred Rankings, 12 pounds below overall hightweight Curlin (the American Horse of the Year) and 10 pounds below the top turf female, Zarkava (the European Horse of the Year).
Rated at 117 pounds in the Mile category on the 2009 Longines World Thoroughbred Rankings, 19 pounds below overall highweight Sea the Stars (the European Horse of the Year) and 13 pounds below Goldikova (the European champion older horse).
As an individual
A long-limbed gray mare, Forever Together has a deep girth, prominent withers, and strong quarters. She is somewhat upright in her pasterns and her hocks are a little out behind her. Like many fillies and mares, she tended to tuck up when in hard training and racing. She could deliver a powerful closing kick. She was a quirky horse to train and would sometimes balk and stop in mid-gallop while exercising.
As a producer
As of October 25, 2024, Forever Together has produced eight named foals, of which seven have started and five have won. Her best runner has been the Grade 3-placed Smart Strike mare Truly Together, now the dam of 2024 bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes (CAN-G2) winner Mouffy (by Uncle Mo) and 2024 Hpibet Singspiel Stakes (CAN-G3) winner Truly Quality (by Quality Road).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Forever Together was bred by White Fox Farm. She was owned by George W. Strawbridge Jr.'s Augustin Stables after being purchased for US$240,000 from the 2006 Ocala Breeders’ Sales spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. She was trained by Jonathan Sheppard and was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf by Julien Leparoux.
Pedigree notes
Sired by multiple Grade 3 winner Belong to Me (by Danzig), Forever Together is outcrossed through five generations. She is out of unraced Constant Companion, a half sister to 1996 Fort Lauderdale Handicap (USA-G3) winner Winged Victory (by Nijinsky II) and stakes winners Service Stripe (by Deputy Minister), Where’s the Ring (by Seeking the Gold), and Puzzled Look (by Gulch). Constant Companion is also a half sister to stakes-placed Wedded Bliss (by His Majesty), dam of listed stakes winners Wedlock (by Maria’s Mon) and Ever After (by Kris S.) and stakes winner Extrovert (by Wild Again) and second dam of 2020 Robert Sangster Classic Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Bella Vella. In addition, Constant Companion is a half sister to Wedding Vow (by Nijinsky II), dam of 2001 Philip H. Iselin Handicap (USA-G2) winner and successful sire Broken Vow (by Unbridled) and multiple stakes winner Threshold (by Homebuilder) and third dam of Grade 3 winner and stakes-winning steeplechaser Abaan. Finally, Constant Companion is a half sister to With This Ring (by Green Dancer), dam of 2004 Nearctic Handicap (CAN-G2) winner I Thee Wed (by Affirmed).
Constant Companion is out of listed stakes winner Wedding Picture (by Blushing Groom), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Tonka Wakhan (by Big Spruce) and to Strike a Balance (by Green Dancer), dam of 1995 Canadian Horse of the Year Peaks and Valleys (by Mt. Livermore) and multiple listed stakes winner Alternate (by Seattle Slew) and second dam of 2019 $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Higher Power, Grade 2 winners Alternation and Eleusis, and Grade 3 winners Cryptograph and Equality. Wedding Picture is also a half sister to Vogueing (by Rare Brick), dam of 2000 What a Pleasure Stakes (USA-G3) winner Radical Riley (by Wheaton).
The next dam in Forever Together’s female line, Strike a Pose (by Iron Ruler x Take a Stand, by Amerigo), is a stakes-placed half sister to 1975 Prix de Conde (FR-G3) winner French Friend (by Herbager) and multiple stakes winner Stage Luck (by Stage Door Johnny). The last-named mare is the dam of two-time American champion Open Mind (by Deputy Minister) and listed stakes winners Stage Door Avie (by Lord Avie) and Shaiba (by Alysheba) and is also the second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Caseal Ros.
Books and media
Footage of Forever Together’s win in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YKGVCLzi9s.
Fun facts
- Forever Together became the namesake for a turf stakes for fillies and mares at Aqueduct.
- From the beginning of her 4-year-old season through the rest of her racing career, Forever Together got a daily ration of Guinness. Trainer Jonathan Sheppard called it “an old Irish trick” to deal with the filly’s soundness problems, her somewhat finicky appetite, and her inability to sweat during training and racing. Apparently, it worked.
- Forever Together shares her name with the winner of the 2018 Investec Oaks Stakes (ENG-G1), a daughter of Galileo and the Theatrical mare Green Room.
Last updated: October 26, 2024