At age 5, And I Know is showing her best

In her first 27 career starts, And I Know was able to produce just one victory. In her last nine, she’s upped the total to four.

The 5-year-old daughter of Handsome Mike raised her record to 4-8-6 in 36 tries yesterday at Belterra Park, and it was probably her easiest score. Veteran Perry Ouzts sent And I Know out second from the No. 4 post, but she quixkly took over the lead around the first turn and never gave it up.

The mare bred by Adolpho and Felicia Exposito led by two lengths down the backstretch and into the final turn, where she received a minor challenge from 6-1 shot Maliced. But And I Know stepped it up and drew off as announcer Ed Meyer chimed in with, “And I know has more in the tank.” She coasted away to win by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:44.48 for the mile and 70 yards, paid $6.60, and earned $5,580, increasing her lifetime total to $53,398 while sending Handsome Mike’s progeny earnings to $803,960.