Notes, Quotes From Ed Brown Stakes: Just Steel

(Just Steel wins the Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team:

LUKAS’ JUST STEEL SCORES 2 ½-LENGTH UPSET IN $222,505 ED BROWN

BC Stables LLC’s Just Steel sat just off a fast contested early pace, swung five-wide at the top of the lane and powered home down the stretch to score an upset win in Saturday’s third running of the $222,505 Ed Brown for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs by 2 ½ lengths over Agoo. Booth, the odds-on 3-5 favorite after a dominant maiden win at Keeneland in October, regressed and faded to fifth.

          Trained by 88-year-old Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas and ridden by Joel Rosario, Just Steel covered the 6 ½ furlongs on a fast track in 1:16.91.

          A 2-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Justify out of the Fastnet Rock (AUS) mare Irish Lights (AUS), Just Steel improved his record to 2-1-1 in seven starts, added $135,245 to his bankroll and increased his earnings to $240,795.

          Just Steel returned $27.08, $10.94 and $5.34 as the 12-1 seventh betting choice in the field of eight juvenile sprinters. Agoo, ridden by Declan Cannon, returned $8.54 and $4.90 with Normandy Herofinishing third under Alex Achard and paying $4.76 to show.

Molly’s Town, Booth, Gabarra, Bowstreet and Divieto completed the order of finish. Bye Bye Liam was scratched.

          The winner was bred by Summerhill Farm.

ED BROWN QUOTES

Joel Rosario (jockey, Just Steel, winner): “I sat a very good trip behind the speed. They went pretty fast. Down the lane he kept finding more and more. He finished really strong. I was impressed with him.”

1. Wayne Lukas (trainer, Just Steel, winner):“I think this horse is just coming along and getting better. I thought Joel (Rosario) gave him a perfect ride. What I was most encouraged about was how he lengthened his stride down the lane. … I think eventually we will go back to two turns. He’s by Justify and should be in his wheelhouse. I think he could be a Kentucky Derby-type horse.”