Kentucky Derby Alumni Update: Just Steel

Feb 05, 2025 Sara Dacus/TwinSpires.com

Just Steel, the horse that brought 89-year-old Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas to his 30th Kentucky Derby and was his 50th starter in the event, is poised to make his 4-year-old debut.

The bay colt has recently recorded a series of works at Oaklawn Park. Lukas was pointing towards a late January comeback, but inclement weather has interfered with winter training.

Just Steel earned his place in the 2024 Run for the Roses by finishing second in three of Oaklawn’s four qualifying races (he was the only horse to compete in all four events). In the Smarty Jones, he finished a nose behind Catching Freedom, who was 4th in the Kentucky Derby. Mystik Dan flashed the brilliance that brought him to the Derby winner’s circle in the Southwest S. (G3): on a muddy track, he crossed the wire eight lengths ahead of Just Steel and the rest of the field. Just Steel’s Arkansas Derby second came behind Muth, a Bob Baffert-trainee who was ineligible at Churchill.

In the Kentucky Derby, Just Steel was bumped leaving the gate. He regained position and was an early frontrunner, but he faded to 17th. He returned in the Preakness S. (G1) and sustained a right front leg fracture while finishing fifth. The injury required surgery and time off. He resumed training in October.

MYSTIK DAN wins the 150th Kentucky Derby! 🌹🏆

It’s an Oaks/Derby double for @KennyMcPeek and @b_hernandezjr!!! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Bw0HbezK0N

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 5, 2024

'He actually looks terrific,' Lukas said. 'The time off and everything filled him out. He grew. He's 17 hands. Now, he's a man among the rest of these. I'm pretty optimistic that he's going to have a big year.'

Just Steel is a son of Justify, the 13th winner of the Triple Crown.

With four trophies each, Lukas and the late trainer Herbert J. Thompson are tied for the second-most Kentucky Derby victories. His first trip to the winner's circle was in 1988 with Winning Colors, the third and most recent filly to win. He swept the 1995 Triple Crown, with Thunder Gulch winning the Derby and Belmont and Timber Country winning the Preakness. Lukas entered a record-tying five horses in the 1996 Kentucky Derby, including victor Grindstone, and he won the 1999 edition with Charismatic.

Lukas has three 2025 Kentucky Derby hopefuls in training. Third-place Lecomte S. (G3) finisher Innovator is pointed to the Rebel S. (G2). American Promise, another son of Justify, was seventh in the Southwest S. and is likely for the Risen Star S. (G2). Caldera, who broke his maiden last month at Oaklawn, is a probable for the Sunland Park Derby Feb. 16.