How did How Did He Do That do it?
Well, the $300,000 Iowa Derby finished up something like this: One in Vermillion held the lead in the stretch, How Did He Do It pulled even just outside of One in Vermillion, and Heroic Move rallied to catch the leaders.
The finish was a nail-biter, and when they crossed the wire in a photo finish, a dead heat for first was declared between One in Vermillion (7-1) and How Did He Do That (48-1), with Heroic Move (21-1) third.
The official result: How Did He Do That, ridden by Richard Eramia, won the race at Prairie Meadows and One in Vermillion (Harry Hernandez aboard) was disqualified from the dead heat win and placed second.
“I watched the replays and I was thinking I know what he likes, and we got it,” winning jockey Richard Eramia said.
The payoffs: How Did He Do That, a 3-year-old colt by Good Magic, returned $98 on a $2 win ticket, and the 4-1 exacta paid $978.
First-place was worth $148,800 to owners Kirk Robison and Judy Robison; second place was worth $49,699 to Jonathan Kalman.
And that’s how he did that.
Also, at Prairie Meadows on Saturday night (July 8):
Cornhusker Handicap
In the $311,000 Cornhusker Handicap (G3), jockey Martin Garcia guided Giant Game to a wire-to-wire victory over Skippylongstocking, with favorite Ain’t Life Grand third in the 10-horse field.
Iowa Oaks
In the $225,000 Iowa Oaks (G3), Cindy Murphy won her 2,000th career race when she brought home Crypto Mo to victory.
A year ago, the 61-year Murphy was unseated and rolled over Crypto Mo before the filly’s first start. She sustained pelvic and rib injuries.
“I don’t hold it against her,” Murphy said. “She paid me back.”
Imonra ran second, two lengths behind the winner, with Stellar Lady third.
Murphy’s husband Tavis Murphy co-owns and trains Crypto Mo said: “She felt pretty strong under me today, so I just went with it. The win was her first in a graded stakes race; he began riding in 1987.”