Florida Derby winner Known Agenda retired to stand at Spendthrift Farm for 2022

Known Agenda, an easy winner of this year's Florida Derby, has been retired from racing and will stand at Spendthrift Farm for the 2022 breeding season.

The son of Curlin will stand for an introductory fee of $10,000 and will be offered through the farm’s 'Share The Upside' programme on a limited basis.

Known Agenda shelved his maiden tag on his second start at two before winning a Gulfstream allowance race by 11 lengths at three.

The Todd Pletcher-trained colt then went on to win the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March by two and three-quarter lengths, giving his sire a first win in the race in the process. He retires with earnings of $641,700.

Bred by Vinnie Viola’s St Elias Stables, the three-year-old is out of another Grade 1 winner in Vanity Handicap scorer Byrama, a Byron half-sister to the Listed-winning Klammer who was runner-up to Frankel in the 2010 Royal Lodge Stakes.

Ned Toffey, Spendthrift's general manager, said of the operation's new recruit: “Any time you can add a Florida Derby winner by Curlin with his looks and pedigree, you jump at the opportunity. Known Agenda ticks an awful lot of boxes, and the Florida Derby has produced a lot of very good sires, especially in recent history.

“We are delighted to partner again with Vinnie Viola, who bred and raced this colt out of his Grade 1-winning mare. Known Agenda is one of those rare classic-type Grade 1 winners that is by a Grade 1 winner and out of a Grade 1 winner.

"He reminded us quite a bit of Vino Rosso, another son of Curlin that we stand that Vinnie co-owned and campaigned with Todd Pletcher. If Known Agenda’s foals look anything like what we have seen from Vino Rosso, then the sky’s the limit.”

Viola added: “We're excited to be standing Known Agenda, our first homebred to go to stud, at Spendthrift Farm.

“This colt showed early promise at two and continued to move forward at three with a dominant victory in the Florida Derby. We're looking for him to continue the great tradition of Florida Derby winners going on to successful stud careers, and we plan on supporting him heavily in that mission.”

His trainer Pletcher remarked: "Known Agenda reminded me a great deal of Vino Rosso. He possessed the qualities of some of the better Curlins we’ve had. He’s a good-sized, athletic, very well-balanced horse.

“His Florida Derby win was ultra-impressive, and, obviously, that’s been a great race for us when you think of the colts that have gone on to become top sires like Scat Daddy and Constitution.”

Read more

Harry Angel colt a 'man against boys' after topping Premier Sale at £220,000

John Dance spending spree headlined by £120,000 Dark Angel colt at Premier Sale

First-crop sires in demand as Havana Grey colt fetches £110,000

Delight for Tally-Ho with Prix Morny winner Perfect Power