Now I Know, winner of the 2011 Delta Downs Princess Stakes (gr. III), has been retired from racing, according to a Feb. 14 Oaklawn Park press release. Her trainer, Don Von Hemel, said that X-rays revealed a fracture in her left front knee following her runner-up finish in the Feb. 11 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn in Arkansas.
A 3-year-old daughter of Pure Prize, Now I Know was scheduled to be shipped to Oklahoma City for surgery. Dr. Mike Major will perform the operation and a screw probably will be inserted in the injured knee, Von Hemel said. The injury isn’t life-threatening.
“We didn’t want to take the chance of cheapening her up,” said Von Hemel, who bred and raced Now I Know in partnership with Wayne Stockseth. “She’s already done more than most horses ever do.”
Now I Know’s runner-up effort in the Martha Washington was her first loss in seven career races. Amie’s Dini won by 1 ¾ lengths.
In addition to the Princess Stakes, Now I Know captured the 2011 Oklahoma Classics Lassie Stakes at Remington Park and the 2012 Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn Jan. 14. She earned $461,721.
Bred in Oklahoma, Now I Know is out of the Maria's Mon mare Now U Know. Plans call for the gray or roan filly to become a broodmare, but she probably won’t recuperate in time to be bred this year, according to the press release.
“For every ending there is a new beginning,” Von Hemel said. “We are looking forward to that new beginning.