by Vance Hanson
Don Von Hemel and Wayne Stockseth’s homebred Now I Know turned the Grade 3,
$500,000 Delta Downs Princess Stakes into a veritable procession on Saturday
afternoon. Assuming command at the start and under no pressure throughout, Now I
Know galloped with ease around the six-furlong oval and opened up late to win by
four lengths to remain undefeated in five career starts. Under the veteran Perry
Comption, the 7-2 second choice completed one mile over the fast track in 1:39
3/5 and returned $9.80, $5 and $4.20.
Running a quick opening quarter of :22 1/5, Now I Know was able to slow the
pace down as the field raced down the backside. Getting a half-mile in :46 3/5,
she raced three-quarters in 1:12 while gradually extending her lead. Turning for
home and still full of run, Now I Know drew away from her well-beaten foes to
earn the $300,000 winner’s share. Two daughters of Hard Spun, Inny Minnie and
Yvete Sangalo, were separated by a nose for second and third, respectively.
Devious Intent finished fourth and was followed by Delightful Magic, Culotte,
Gospel Gal, Yeardley, 6-5 favorite Candrea and Citizen Advocate. Candrea, a
Grade 1 runner-up who had faded after setting the pace in the Grade 1 Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 4, raced wide throughout, came under pressure
on the far turn and then stopped in the stretch.
Trained by Von Hemel and bred in Oklahoma, the winning daughter of Pure Prize
has never been headed throughout her career. After a two-length maiden score
against Oklahoma-breds at Remington Park on August 24, she next beat open
allowance company over the same track by 2 3/4 lengths. She added two more wins
against state-breds at the Oklahoma City course in October, taking an allowance
by 3 1/2 lengths and the Oklahoma Classics Lassie Stakes by 9 1/4 lengths. She’s
now earned $416,721.
Now I Know is the first foal from the unraced Maria’s Mon mare Now U Know.
Now I Know’s fourth dam was Leaf Spring, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 hero
Mi Selecto and multiple Grade 2 scorer Bar Dexter. She produced South African
juvenile champion Blossoming Fields.
Further back, Now I Know descends from the English champion mother-daughter
pair of Exhibitionist and Sweet One.