Oaklawn: Now I Know stays perfect by taking Dixie Belle

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- The first star of the Oaklawn Park emerged on Saturday, when Now I Know turned back Amie’s Dini in the $50,000 Dixie Belle to improve her record to 6 for 6. She won by 1 1/4 lengths. It was another five lengths back in third to Rocket Twentyone.

Now I Know has made a name for herself in short order. After winning the first four starts of her career at Remington Park - three of them against Oklahoma-breds - she shipped to Louisiana and tested the waters in the Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess. Now I Know ended up defeating a strong field by four lengths, then launched her 3-year-old season Saturday with an equally impressive effort that put her on the road to the Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy at Oaklawn on April 11.

“She’s still writing her story,” said Perry Compton, the regular rider on Now I Know.

Now I Know ($2.80) broke on top in the six furlong Dixie Belle, and was up by 1 1/2 lengths through an opening quarter in 22.21 seconds. She maintained her advantage through a half-mile in 45.73, then withstood a midstretch bid from Amie’s Dini before going on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:10.85.

“She doesn’t have to be on the lead…it’s just a good spot to be,” winning trainer Don Von Hemel said following the Dixie Belle.

Von Hemel also co-bred and co-owns Now I Know with Wayne Stockseth. Now I Know is a daughter of Pure Prize. Von Hemel said she would now be pointed for the $75,000 Martha Washington, a one-mile race at Oaklawn on Feb. 11.

Now I Know earned $30,000 for the win, to improve her career bankroll to $446,721.

The ontrack crowd Saturday was 21,141. It was the second card of the meet at Oaklawn.