After flopping in his first start around two turns, Just Steel apparently will have a chance to make amends next month at Oaklawn.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Monday morning that Just Steel is targeting the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 1. The Smarty Jones is Oaklawn's first of four points races for the Kentucky Derby.
From the second crop of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Just Steel broke his maiden by a nose Aug. 5 at Saratoga and was a 2 ½-length winner of the $225,000 Ed Brown Stakes Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs in his last start. Sandwiched around those sprint victories were three consecutive losses, including a sixth in the $600,000 Breeders' Futurity Stakes (G1) at 8 ½-furlongs Oct. 7 at Keeneland.
Just Steel, who held the lead approaching the top of the stretch, was beaten 16 lengths in his two-turn debut. The Ed Brown was 6 ½ furlongs.
“He kind of came to life the last race, winning that little stake, which helped us because he's had a couple of trips where I don't think he learned much,” Lukas said. “He got his act together very well. The thing I loved about his last race was the way he extended his stride on the far turn. He was running along and all of a sudden, he extended it about 3 feet per jump. I need that because I'm hoping he's a two-turn horse.”
Just Steel was purchased for $500,000 by owners John Bellinger and Brian Coelho (BC Stables LLC) at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Just Steel has already recouped roughly half that investment with a 2-1-1 record from seven starts and $240,795 in earnings.
“We'll give him a chance to be a good horse,” Lukas said. “We'll treat him like a stake horse and let him disappoint us. I think we'll probably go to the Smarty Jones.”
The Smarty Jones has been extended to 1 1/16-miles in 2024 after being run at one mile since its inception in 2008. It will offer 21 total points (10-5-3-2-1, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.
The post ‘He Kind Of Came To Life’: Just Steel To Get Second Chance At Two Turns In Oaklawn Derby Prep appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
