HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – St. Elias Stable’s homebred Known Agenda, a major Triple Crown contender following his impressive victory in the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa March 27 at Gulfstream Park, had a planned trip to Kentucky postponed 24 hours due to inclement weather.
Known Agenda was scheduled to fly from South Florida to Louisville Sunday but severe thunderstorms sweeping through the area pushed the flight to Monday, trainer Todd Pletcher said.
“There’s some bad weather in Orlando, so they postponed the flight. He’ll train [Monday] at Palm Beach Downs and then go,” he said. “We were scheduled to go today and then all the bad weather came in.”
A sophomore son of two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin, Known Agenda had his first timed work since the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby April 9, an easy half-mile in 50.25 seconds at Palm Beach Downs.
“He’s doing excellent. We’re very happy with him,” Pletcher said. “He’s showing good energy. He seems pleased with himself.”
Known Agenda worked in company with Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) winner Colonel Liam. At Churchill Downs he will join Wood Memorial (G2) winner Bourbonic and runner-up Dynamic One as well as Sainthood, second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G2) at Turfway Park, as Pletcher’s Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects.
“We were kind of monitoring the weather everywhere and the way things kind of unfolded last week with a couple horses in New York going to Louisville, it just seemed to make sense to consolidate there,” Pletcher said. “[Known Agenda] was scheduled to breeze [Saturday], we got that in, and now we’ll get to Churchill and, hopefully, breeze on Friday there.”
Pletcher said he plans to give Known Agenda two works at Churchill in his attempt to win a third Derby. He won with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017, the latter one of the trainer’s record six Florida Derby victories.
Always Dreaming, who counted St. Elias Stable among his large ownership group, went winless at 2 before breaking his maiden in his 3-year-old opener. He made his Gulfstream debut winning a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming allowance that earned him a shot in the Florida Derby, his first stakes race, which he captured by five lengths.
Known Agenda, meanwhile, won once in three juvenile starts and he, too, punched his Florida Derby ticket with an optional claiming allowance going 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream. His came Feb. 26, the first time he raced with blinkers.
“They’re different personalities. Always Dreaming was the kind of horse that would really show off in the mornings and work fast and things like that,” Pletcher said, “where this horse is a little more laid-back personality. He’s not one that’s going to put in some super quick breezes, but I feel like the mile and a quarter is right in his wheelhouse and I like the way he’s doing.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., Gulfstream’s three-time defending Championship Meet leading rider, will ride Known Agenda in the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher has won a record 17 Championship Meet training titles, having his unprecedented streak snapped at 15 straight years in 2018-19.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Known Agenda, (Derbe Glass)
