Just Steel - Thoroughbred
- morethanpethk
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 24
HIGHLIGHTS
Foaled March 9, 2021
The Incident: May 18, 2024 (at 3yo) - US
The Incident: Just Steel suffered several violent collisions near the starting gate and began to walk with a limp. X-rays revealed a fracture in his right fore leg.
The Leading Surgeon: Dr. Larry Bramlage
The Outcome: A Success - The horse recovered from surgery five months later. He officially retired in April 2026 and began his career as a stallion.
ABOUT THE HORSE
Just Steel was sired by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. The horse was purchased for US$500,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by BC Stable He had been racing since June 2023.
Just Steel is the only horse to go through Oaklawn’s four-race series of Kentucky Derby qualifying races at the 2023-2024 meeting, finishing second in the Smarty Jones, second in the Southwest (G3), seventh in Rebel (G2) and second in the Derby (G1). He finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby.
THE INCIDENT – 18 May 2024 (at 4yo)
It is Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course, rain persisted throughout the day, the turf was soft. Just Steel’s right front leg was fractured while finishing fifth in the Preakness Stakes. The trainer speculated that the injury might have taken place as the field was turning for home.
THE SAVING EFFORT – led by Dr. Larry Bramlage
Dr. Bramlage examined that Just Steel had sustained a condylar fracture of his right front fetlock. He described his fracture as somewhat unusual "in that it's not just a straight line, like an upside-down Y –a V-shaped piece at the joint surface that the surgeon had to trap between two pieces of bone.
The colt underwent surgery several days later performed by Dr. Bramlage, he put two screws in the broken joint. The surgery went well and Just Steel was doing well following surgery. He looked good in the morning, he was walking back and forth in the barn without any visible lameness.
Though the colt was in very good start after surgery, the team had to see how that piece of bone healing in two months as complications can sometimes occur during post-operation recovery.
Just Steel was progressing well in his rehabilitation. The colt had another series of X-rays before progressing from hand-walking to paddock turnout. By July 2024, Dr. Bramlage anticipated that the colt would back on the track in the fall after taking another month of hand-walking in a Kentucky farm.
A month later, Just Steel went really well, and looked terrific. Dr. Bramlage described that the colt is a man among the rest of the colts after recovery.
THE OUTCOME
Just Steel recovered, resumed training in September 2024, approximately 5 months after surgery. The colt had rejoined the barn of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, returned to the work tab 21 Dec at Oaklawn, covering three furlongs in :38. In 2025, 4yo Just Steel resumed to racing on 23 Feb and 16 Mar starts, finished at the 5th and 4th place respectively.
By April 2026, Just Steel has been officially retired from racing and has transitioned to a new career as a breeding stallion. Thankfully he was given the 2nd chance to live.
Source: Thoroughbred Daily News
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