With the Kentucky Derby prep races in their final few weeks, usracing.com is publishing profiles of the contenders for the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) on Saturday [March 27], a Derby points-qualifier offering 100-40-20-10 points to the first four finishers. Post-position and odds will be updated following Wednesday’s draw.
By Margaret Ransom
Known Agenda, who hails from the barn of two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, has yet to win a stakes race but earned a third in the Remsen (G3) at Aqueduct in early December.
The Curlin colt has been training in Florida since early January and hasn’t missed a beat after running fifth in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in February. He put in an amazing 11-length allowance romp at 9 furlongs, with blinkers on for the first time, on Feb. 26 at Gulfstream.
Horses at Tampa Bay Downs – Photo Courtesy of www.TampaBay.com
Known Agenda breezed 5 furlongs in 1:02.52 at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday [March 20] in his final pre-Florida Derby move, an effort that more than satisfied his conditioner.
“I thought he went great,” Pletcher said. “The first eighth was a little slow. He went off in like 14 [seconds] and went the last half in 48 1/5. He looked good and seemed happy.
“I’ve liked the way he’s been training since his last race.”
Known Agenda is the only runner in the field to have defeated likely favorite Greatest Honour when he broke his maiden at Aqueduct back in early November.
2021 Florida Derby Entries: Known Agenda
Post position: TBD
Odds: TBD
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Owner: St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)
Age: 3
Career record: 5-2-1-1
Career earnings: $104,600
Top Equibase speed figure: 103
Pedigree: Curlin-Byrama, by Byron
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Mid-pack
Notes: Dam Byrama won the Vanity Stakes (G1) at Hollywood Park in 2013 over the synthetic and was subsequently sold to St. Elias Stable for $725,000 that November at Keeneland but never won another race, though she did pick up three more graded stakes placings … St. Elias Stable tried to sell Known Agenda as a yearling but kept him to be a member of their racing program after he failed to meet his reserve when bidding halted at $135,000 at Keeneland in September of 2019 … St. Elias Stable was a partner in 2017 Florida Derby/Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.
