In her first three career starts, under three different jockeys, Steel City Lady finished sixth, fifth and fourth. It took veteran Joe Bravo to turn it around in start No. 4, a 7 1/2-furlong race on the grass at Gulfstream Park.

The 3-year-old First Dude filly was bumped leaving the gate and Bravo was forced to ease her back to eighth down the backstretch. From there, Steel City Lady began making up a ton of ground on the inside and she proved to be best down the lane, winning by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:30.50. She paid $9.40 and collected a check of $29,100 for owner/breeder J. J. Brevan Stable.