How Did He Do That, Big Data have targets in Super Derby
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Multiple stakes winner How Did He Do That and the developing Big Data could both get the right setup Saturday in the $200,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.
The 1 1/8-mile race, which is back after a three-year hiatus, drew a number of speed horses in the field of seven. Promise Me a Ride and Machine Gun Man are coming off front-running allowance wins. No White Flags is 2 for 2 in sprints at Louisiana Downs, and Donegal Arrow and Tiz Donegal go sprint-to-route Saturday.
Big Data enters off an allowance win in which he stalked the pace July 23 at Gulfstream Park.
“I think there’s sufficient speed where he should have the right kind of targets,” trainer Michael Lerman said. “It’s not a big field – there should be enough spacing between them, not too much dirt in anybody’s face. It should be a very fairly run race.”
How Did He Do That weaved his way through a field of 10 to win the Iowa Derby on July 8. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96. How Did He Do That has raced once since, finishing sixth in the Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 13.
“Which How Did He Do That do we get? It’s obvious he’s capable, but he’s not always willing,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He’s about 10 times our size, so he’s in charge.”
Asmussen said he’s drawing a line through the Ellis Park Derby. The horse would be tough to beat with a repeat of his Iowa Derby. He finished in a dead heat with One in Vermillion, who was disqualified for interference and has since finished third in the West Virginia Derby and first in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga.
How Did He Do That will break from post 5 under Joel Dominguez.
“He ran a wonderful number in the Iowa Derby – against a horse that has come back and run solid,” Asmussen said. “He’s capable. Is he willing?”
Asmussen trains How Did He Do That for J. Kirk and Judy Robison. Asmussen is looking to win the Super Derby three times in a row, having won the 2018 running with Limation and the latest running in 2019 with Rotation.
Big Data is making his stakes debut after holding his own against such rivals as Arcangelo, Lord Miles, Il Miracolo, and West Coast Cowboy. Big Data has been pointed to the Super Derby for a couple of reasons.
“It was primarily the timing and the distance,” Lerman said. “The fact that it’s a mile and an eighth was really the key component.
“He’s by Cloud Computing out of a Creative Cause mare, and it’s nine furlongs-plus on both sides of his family. He’s a big, strong horse who always acted like the more distance the better.”
Emisael Jaramillo has the mount from post 4 for Petal Power Racing Stable.
The Kentucky-based Promise Me a Ride is returning to his roots. The son of Mastery is out of the mare Promise Me More, who won her maiden in the Donnie Wilhite at Louisiana Downs in 2014. Tim Thornton has the mount for trainer Brad Cox.
◗ NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone will be in the paddock to call “riders up” for the Super Derby.
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