Delta Downs: Now I Know remains undefeated in Princess with sharp score
VINTON, La.- Don Von Hemel on Saturday morning expressed quiet confidence that Now I Know, an undefeated filly he co-bred, co-owns, and trains, was sitting on a big race heading into the afternoon’s Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess.
His star pupil delivered the best race of her career.
Now I Know remained perfect in five starts with her dominant, four-length win in the Princess. The one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies that shared a card with seven other stakes, including the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. The program was the biggest of the meet at Delta.
Now I Know ($9.80) was making her two-turn debut in the Princess. She broke sharply and moved to the lead soon after with Delightful Magic in close pursuit through an opening quarter in 22.31 seconds. Candrea, the 6-5 favorite, tracked in third, as Now I Know continued to dictate terms through a half-mile in 46.71 and six furlongs in 1:12.07.
“She’s capable of going faster and capable of going slower, it’s just what’s on her mind at the time,” said winning rider Perry Compton.
Now I Know began opening up on her rivals midway on the final turn, then went on to cover the distance on a track rated fast in 1:39.29. Inny Minnie closed for second, while it was a nose back in third to Yvete Sangalo. Candrea finished ninth in the Princess.
Von Hemel, the father of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-winning trainer Donnie Von Hemel, bred and races Now I Know with Wayne Stockseth. Von Hemel had purchased Now I Know’s dam, Now U Know, as a yearling, but an injury as a 2-year-old derailed her career. Von Hemel and Stockseth decided to keep Now U Know for breeding purposes, and on a cover to Pure Prize she produced Now I Know.
“It’s been a big pleasure,” Von Hemel said of watching the development of Now I Know.
Now I Know won her debut in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Remington Park back in August. She proceeded to win a first-level allowance at the track in September, an allowance for Oklahoma-breds there in October, then the $81,000 Oklahoma Classics Lassie prior to the Princess.
“Everybody that supports racing should be lucky enough to have one like this,” said Stockseth.