DEL MAR, Calif. — Forever Young beat defending champion Sierra Leone by a half-length to win the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Del Mar, giving Japan a victory in North America’s richest race.

Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, Forever Young ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.19 and paid $9 to win at 7-2 odds. The colt was third in last year’s Classic behind Sierra Leone and Fierceness.

The race lost Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty when the colt was scratched after spiking a fever earlier in the week.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi earned his third career Cup victory, while Sakai claimed his first.

“Forever Young is an amazing horse,” Yahagi said through a translator.

Fierceness was third and Preakness winner Journalism was fourth. Mindframe finished fifth, followed by Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian and Contrary Thinking.

Forever Young increased his career earnings to $19,358,590, with 10 wins in 13 starts.

In Saturday’s other races:

– Ireland-bred Ethical Diamond won the $5 million Turf by 1 1/4 lengths and paid $57.40 to win.

– Bentornato scored a two-length victory in the $2 million Sprint after finishing second last year. Irad Ortiz Jr. earned his second Cup win of the day and 23rd in his career.

– Scylla won the $2 million Distaff by five lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

– Britain-bred Notable Speech won the $2 million Mile by 1 1/2 lengths. He ran the distance on the grass in 1:33.66. It was the fourth time trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick have teamed to win the race.

– Gezora won the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf and paid $20.20 to win at 9-1 odds.

– Splendora roared past her favored stablemate Hope Road at the top of the stretch for a four-length victory in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint. Trainer Bob Baffert earned his 20th career Cup victory.

– Nysos held off stablemate Citizen Bull by a head to win the $1 million Dirt Mile, giving Baffert a 1-2 finish. The Hall of Fame trainer’s 21st career Cup win put him in a tie for the all-time lead with Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.

– Shisospicy won the $1 million Turf Sprint by two lengths under Ortiz.

TORONTO — The Blue Jays have joined their counterparts on the Los Angeles Dodgers in paying tribute to Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia during the World Series.

Vesia is away from the team because of a “deeply personal family matter,” the Dodgers said in a statement posted on social media before Game 1. Pitchers on the Dodgers have been playing with Vesia’s No. 51 on the side of their caps.

In a show of solidarity, Blue Jays relievers have started doing the same thing. Toronto’s Chris Bassitt, Seranthony Dominguez, Mason Fluharty and Louis Varland all had the No. 51 written on the side of their caps in Friday’s Game 6, a 3-1 Dodgers win that forced Game 7.

Vesia, 29, has been a dependable bullpen arm for the defending champions. The left-hander went 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 68 regular-season games. He was 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in seven postseason appearances.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was touched to see the Blue Jays recognize an opponent amid the heightened competition of the World Series.

“It’s everything,” Roberts said before Saturday’s Game 7 in Toronto. “I didn’t learn that until after the game last night. I think it really speaks to the brotherhood of athletes. … It just speaks to how much respect and love they have for one another. It’s a huge, huge tribute to Alex.”

Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez was staring at the stadium big screen as he walked back to the dugout after striking out in the ninth inning Friday when he noticed the number written on Bassitt’s cap.

“I was looking up at the board to see the replay, and that’s when I saw that he had 51,” Hernandez said Saturday. “Instead of being mad that I struck out, I was kind of going back to the dugout thinking ‘Did Bassitt play with Vesia at some point?’ And then after the game I saw that everybody had them. For those guys to do that, it’s incredible. They’re trying to win a World Series, but they understand that life is bigger than baseball, and baseball’s just a game.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the tribute to Vesia showed the quality of character among the players in his team’s clubhouse.

“We have a lot of good people, a lot of good humans in there that are husbands and fathers and all that kind of stuff, that just appreciate what we all do and the hardships that come with it,” Schneider said.