Florida Derby winner Known Agenda places Ermyn Lodge Stud-bred Byrama on the map

Saturday's Florida Derby winner Known Agenda had more than a hint of British breeding about him as his dam, Byrama, was bred and trained in Britain before her subsequent transfer to America.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Known Agenda, a son of Curlin, was adding a first top-level success to his CV after winning last year at two and adding a claiming race at Gulfstream last time out.

Bred by St Elias Stables, Known Agenda is out of the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap winner Byrama, who was bred by Pat Phelan and Tony Smith's Ermyn Lodge Stud and is herself by Lennox and Mill Reef Stakes winner Byron.

A winner for Nigel Tinkler on her second start at two, she subsequently joined Simon Callaghan's California stable the following April. She made he sole success in the US count when landing the Vanity Handicap.

The 12-year-old has had three runners to have made the track and also has a yearling filly by Always Dreaming.

Byron, who is chiefly notable for siring the hugely popular Prix de la Foret and Haydock Sprint Cup hero Gordon Lord Byron, was bred by Cheveley Park and proved a high-class performer for Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin. The son of Green Desert is also responsible for stakes performers Professor and Ahtoug.

Known Agenda also put Pletcher in a position to have his 18th straight starter in the Kentucky Derby, a streak in the Classic that dates back to 2004.

"He certainly stamped his ticket today [to the Kentucky Derby]," said Pletcher, quoted by Bloodhorse. "The one exciting thing about him is, we've always felt distance was not an issue for him. We feel a mile-and-a-quarter is going to be right up his wheelhouse."

Known Agenda, who won a maiden at Aqueduct in November, was third in the Remsen Stakes and fifth in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, before returning to top form in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream.

"You want to have five healthy weeks and have everything go smoothly between now and May 1, but that was a huge, huge step in the right direction today," said Pletcher after a sixth Florida Derby victory.

"It's a meaningful Grade 1 win for a really good-looking son of Curlin, so it's exciting."

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