How Did He Do That ($91.20) notches photo-finish upset in Oklahoma Derby

How Did He Do That has been blowing up toteboards and photo-finish equipment around the Midwest of late, winning his second major race in both a photo and at odds of more than 40-1 on Sunday in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

He returned $91.20 after winning a three-way photo over stablemate Red Route One and third-place finisher Tumbarumba. The score was three starts removed from his Iowa Derby victory at 48-1. How Did He Do That finished in a dead heat with One in Vermillion, who was disqualified for interference that night at Prairie Meadows in an action that made How Did He Do That the stand-alone winner of the Iowa Derby.

“He must have stage fright – he doesn’t like being one of the favorites,” Darren Fleming, longtime assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen, said of How Did He Do That in an interview broadcast by Remington.

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How Did He Do That on Sunday tracked leader Ghost Hero, sitting just off Ghost Hero through fractions of 23.57 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.05 for the half-mile and 1:12.21 for six furlongs. How Did He Do That moved to the fore from there, and was able to hold off the ferocious late charge of Red Route One for a nose victory. It was another nose back in third to Tumbarumba. The winner covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.34.

“He ran great, what can I say,” winning rider Stewart Elliott said in an interview broadcast by Remington. “He broke, was laying right up there and every time I asked him to keep his position he responded. Down the lane, I kept asking him and he kept digging in.”

Following the race, there was a claim of foul by the rider of Groveland against both How Did He Do That and Cagliostro, as well as a stewards inquiry into the stretch run. There was no change made to the order of finish.

How Did He Do That is a son of Good Magic who races for J. Kirk and Judy Robison. He has now won 4 of 14 starts for earnings of $562,553. He came into the Oklahoma Derby – which marked his first graded win – off a third-place finish in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

The Oklahoma Derby was the richest race of the Remington Park meet and it was showcased on a card of eight stakes that included the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks won by Honor D Lady.

The remaining order of finish in the Oklahoma Derby was Raise Cain in fourth, a length behind Tumbarumba, followed by Cagliostro, Hit Show, Heroic Move, Groveland, Gunflash, Ghost Hero, Pearl’s Earl, Mor Lana Spirit. West Coast Cowboy was scratched from the Oklahoma Derby.

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