Under-the-radar 2-year-olds to watch from Churchill Downs

Besides the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Honor Marie, there were a couple of other promising 2-year-olds to watch on Saturday’s Churchill Downs card. The card was filled with races only for 2-year-olds males and females, which made it great for trail watchers.

Here are three notable and under-the-radar winners from the Kentucky Jockey Club undercard to follow on the Derby trail in the future. 

Legalize

Race 2

After only a mild fifth in his debut at Keeneland, Legalize came to life in his second career start Saturday when he broke his maiden in gate-to-wire fashion in a seven-furlong race for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Legalize won by 1 1/2 lengths over El Magnifco in second. El Magnifico had fallen three lengths behind at one point before getting closer. 

The notable part came in the final time and speed figure. Legalize completed the distance in 1:23.05, which resulted in a 112 TimeformUS Speed Figure. For a 2-year-old who broke his maiden in November in his second start, that is a great figure when using those past performances.

In terms of pedigree, Legalize is supposed to stretch out. This is a son of Constitution and grandson of 2005 Kentucky Oaks champion Summerly on the dam side.

If Legalize can prove himself as a stalker or sit off others, that would help him in the future as he faces better fields with good speed horses. 

In any case, expect Legalize to become a player in Derby prep races soon.

Track Phantom

Race 8

With one third and one second in two races at Churchill Downs to start his career, Track Phantom had shown ability while coming up short.

Track Phantom finally put it all together and broke his maiden on the stretchout to a 1 1/16 miles by a clear margin of 4 3/4 lengths. He won the race after putting away his pace rival Wistucky on the far turn and repelling the bid from Surf City before opening up late.

In the end, Track Phantom won by 4 3/4 lengths with a final time of 1:44.72 for the 1 1/16-mile distance. The final time was good enough for Track Phantom to earn a 103 figure on TimeformUS.

Track Phantom’s pedigree might feel suspect. The son of Quality Road is out of Miss Sunset, a stakes sprinter who won $891k in her career.  

Nevertheless, Track Phantom receives the benefit of the doubt for now after breaking his maiden in a two-turn route race.

Just Steel

Race 9

Just Steel tried to use his speed to no avail in graded-stakes attempts at Saratoga and Keeneland a few months ago. Perhaps Just Steel deserves another chance at the graded-stakes level after winning the Ed Brown Stakes with stalking tactics that saw him circle the field.

Under urging from Joel Rosario, Just Steel took the race by 2 1/2 lengths while completing the 6 1/2-furlong distance in 1:16.91.

Granted, Just Steel possibly benefited from the shorter distance in the Ed Brown. Regardless, the win could give him confidence for the future, especially when considering some of the talented runners that he beat.

The fifth-place Booth previously broke his maiden at Keeneland by 5 1/4 lengths over a promising 2-year-old in Nash with a 116 on TimeformUS.

Just Steel’s breeding also feels a bit suspect on his bottom side.

His dam Irish Lights competed in mostly sprint races, but she did win the one-mile Thousand Guineas (G1) back in 2009. He might deserve another shot to prove himself in longer routes if he can stalk the pace.