It had been nearly 11 months since jockey Stewart Elliott was aboard How Did He Do That. On that occasion, the pair finished a distant sixth in the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park.
While that last pairing was mostly forgettable, it may be a long time before their reunion is forgotten.
How Did He Do That, with 44-1 odds, nosed out two of the favorites in a three-way photo finish to take the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby under the lights at Remington Park. The final time was 1:50.34
"He ran great," said Elliott. "He broke and he was laying right up there, and every time I asked him just to keep his position he responded. Even down the lane, I kept asking, getting after him and he kept digging in."
The 3-year-old son of Good Magic kept pace with fellow longshot Ghost Hero through the final turn. There most of the field decided to make a push. Ghost Hero, in the two path, was joined by Cagliostro, who was five wide; Groveland; How Did He Do That; and Tumbarumba.
There was some contact between Groveland, Cagliostro, and How Did He Do That as the field tightened. Jockey Jesus Castanon (Groveland) lodged an objection, but ultimately the stewards ruled against that motion.
Entering the final half furlong, How Did He Do That held a slim lead over Tumbarumba, but a late-charging Red Route One, with Joel Rosario in the irons, squeezed into what little space was between the leaders insisting on making the final seconds a thriller.
But as they reached the wire, How Did He Do That had just enough to close the deal. Red Route One was second by a nose, which was the same margin between him and Tumbarumba.
How Did He Do That paid $91.20 for the win.
Trainer Steve Asmussen's assistant Darren Fleming said, "It's a nice horse when he puts it together. It's always been in there."
The winner was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and owned by Kirk and Judy Robison. The Robisons purchased How Did He Do That at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling sale for $190,000 out of the Warrendale Sales consignment.
Good Magic stands at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Paris, Ky., for $50,000.
HONOR D LADY WINS REMINGTON PARK OAKS
Following a decisive win in the Honey Ryder Stakes last May at Gulfstream Park, the future looked bright for Madaket Stable and Final Furlong Farm's Honor D Lady. However, three losses later her team was forced to return to the drawing board and landed on the Remington Park Oaks (G3), where the result was a sparkling 2 3/4-length victory.
Perched three-wide in third throughout early under jockey Tyler Conner, Honor D Lady took dead aim on the pacesetting Ancient Peace when even-money favorite Merlazza was suddenly pulled up around the far turn. Honor D Lady drew even with Ancient Peace at the quarter pole and batted that rival down the stretch, kicking clear in the final sixteenth.
Honor D Lady ($17.40), trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., struck the wire in a final time of 1:46 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track.
Ancient Peace was a clear second over Magic Bubbles. Merlazza, who took a bad step by the three-eighths pole according to jockey Flavien Prat, was walked off following the race.
*Honor D Lady has won on three different track surfaces- synthetic, turf, and dirt.
*The 3-year-old Honor Code filly bumped her earnings to $244,567 with her first graded stakes score.
*She sold for only $40,000 as a yearling to bloodstock agent Jim Thompson at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale.
