Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Known Agenda

Mar 30, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

St. Elias Stables’ homebred Known Agenda earned 100 points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby following his 2 3/4-length victory in the $770,000 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on March 27. He finished 1 1/8 miles on the fast main strip in 1:49.45 under Irad Ortiz Jr. to notch his first graded stakes win.

Breaking slowly, Known Agenda quickly recovered and sat in fifth along the rail around the backside while saving ground. He angled three-wide approaching the final turn and held a narrow edge at the top of the stretch. From there, the talented youngster opened up while drifting wide en route to a convincing score.

Ortiz stated following the race, “I really like the way he handled the distance. He was better. I like that. He’s a classy horse. He’s not too crazy. You can do anything with him. He’s got a good mind.”

The chestnut debuted at Belmont Park on Sept. 27 and finished a sharp second behind subsequent stakes winner Highly Motivated in a 6 1/2-furlong dash. In his next assignment, Known Agenda graduated with a game win over onetime Kentucky Derby hopeful Greatest Honour in a nine-furlong test at Aqueduct on Nov. 8. He concluded his two-year-old campaign with a distant third-place result in the Remsen S. (G2) over a sloppy surface.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of Curlin made his sophomore debut in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and was a late-running fifth following a tardy break. The colt, while wearing blinkers for the initial time, dominated allowance foes by 11 lengths at Gulfstream in anticipation of the Florida Derby.

Known Agenda was bred in the Bluegrass State and is the first black-type winner produced from the Byron mare Byrama, who earned her biggest success when capturing the 2013 Vanity H. (G1). Byrama is also responsible for a two-year-old Bodemeister filly named Breeze Berry, as well as a unnamed yearling filly by Always Dreaming.

With steadily improving form, especially following the equipment change, the stout sophomore is moving in the right direction at the perfect time of the season. His conditioner is a two-time Derby winning trainer, and the colt's running style suggests that 10 furlongs on May 1 at Churchill Downs will not be an issue. Known Agenda must be considered among the better prospects for the Run for the Roses.