Just Steel shows sharp form as he nears return to racing

Just Steel is on schedule to return to the races this winter at Oaklawn Park, according to his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas. The horse breezed three furlongs in 38 seconds Saturday, in his first published work since April.

Just Steel has not raced since sustaining an injury when finishing fifth in the Preakness Stakes in May. Last season at Oaklawn, he ran second in the Arkansas Derby, Southwest and Smarty Jones.

“He looks terrific,” Lukas said earlier in December. “He’d been in light training for 30 days before we came here, so he’s now in full training here.”

Lukas said earlier this meet that provided things go as scheduled, Just Steel could see racing in late January or early February.

“He looks unbelievable," Lukas said. "Seventeen hands and a half-inch and weighs probably 1,250, 1,300 pounds. He’s a man, boy. He is that. I’m very excited about him.”

Just Steel is a stakes-winning son of Justify.

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