Grade 1, $770,000 Florida Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park, March 27, 2021 (100 Derby qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth) Winner: Known Agenda, by Curlin Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Owner: St. Elias Stable Beyer Speed Figure: 94 Blinkers certainly have made a difference for KNOWN AGENDA, who followed up an allowance victory last month with a career best here, earning a Beyer figure that puts him right in the mix with the current top contenders for the Kentucky Derby. He’s 2 for 2 since adding blinkers, and obviously on the improve at exactly the right time. His figures coming into this race were only moderate, and his prior win had been his first start with Lasix, which he could not use here. So he certainly had a bit to prove. He proved it. I’d been underwhelmed by his prior stakes tries in the Remsen (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-remsen-stakes-analysis) and the Sam Davis (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-sam-f-davis-stakes-analysis), but this was a significant step forward. While blinkers have helped, his two best races have come at Gulfstream. He’s fond of this track, and he’ll need to bring that form to Louisville. But an improving 3-year-old at this time of year is a valued asset come Derby Day. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more In this race, Known Agenda raced midpack around the first turn in the two path, between rivals, tracking a four-way battle for the lead. He moved closer during the run down the backstretch, then had to wait entering the far turn while behind NOVA RAGS. He was gradually angled off the rail to the three path coming off the bend while being asked to advance, leaned in in upper stretch and was straightened by Ortiz using a left-handed whip, then powered clear in the final furlong while continually under left-handed pressure. He drifted to his right through much of the stretch run, then shifted back in to his left when Ortiz stopped hitting him, indicating he has a tendency to lug in unless corrected. SOUP AND SANDWICH, who finished second, broke sharp but had company to his inside and wound up three paths wide around the first turn while vying for the lead. He got a bit keen turning into the backstretch and went up to engage Nova Rags, then poked his head in front while still too aggressive. He darted away from Nova Rags and COLLABORATE three furlongs out while in the two path, looked to be far more settled at that point, was immediately tackled by Known Agenda at the top of the lane, couldn’t go with the winner, and stayed on his wrong lead until just before the wire. Considering this was only his third start and his stakes debut, he ran quite well, putting away his pace rivals and yielding only to the winner while three lengths clear of favored GREATEST HONOUR. Greatest Honour, who was third, lacks early speed and was outrun to the first turn, through which he mostly was in the two path after entering the turn in the four path. He moved closer along the rail early on the backstretch when the pace slowed, but had to tap on the brakes and wait. He followed Known Agenda into the far turn while inside, continued to save ground while shoved along, then finished evenly while never threatening the top two. He probably prefers to be outside making one run, instead of a start-and-stop trip, but getting that kind of trip in the Derby often leads to significant ground loss, and based on figures he’s not good enough right now to surrender that much ground and still prevail. His figures are idling in the mid-to-upper 80s. Nova Rags, who was fourth, had good speed from his inside draw to take a narrow lead around the first turn. He raced just behind and inside the aggressive Soup and Sandwich heading down the backstretch, made a couple of bids to get on terms with Soup and Sandwich but was rebuffed, then gradually tired through the lane. Collaborate, who was fifth, was forced out by Soup and Sandwich toward SPIELBERG leaving the gate, then used his speed to advance toward the lead, only to get caught four paths wide around the first turn. He raced just behind and outside Soup and Sandwich down the backstretch, was three paths wide on the far turn, had to be hustled along midway on the turn, but failed to respond and tired while being shoved aside by an onrushing Known Agenda at the top of the lane. He wasn’t persevered with through the final furlong, yet he still beat more than half the field. He deserved a shot at this level off his maiden win, but wasn’t ready quite yet. I think this is a quality colt. He’ll just need more time. SOUTHERN PASSAGE, who was sixth, lagged at the rear of the field while saving ground around the first turn, remained well back throughout, came around rivals in the three path coming off the bend, and merely passed tired foes. PAPETU, who finished seventh, couldn’t get over from his wide draw and went into the first turn toward the rear of the field while four paths wide. He raced in some traffic midway down the backstretch, made up some ground while four to five paths wide on the far turn, but flattened out through the lane. Spielberg, who was eighth, was carried out a bit at the start by Collaborate, threw his head about briefly, then went into the first turn three paths wide while just outside Known Agenda. He never could get over and went into the far turn four paths wide, came under an aggressive ride three furlongs out, but was out-footed by Papetu around the turn, drifted wider coming off the bend, and never got close. Even allowing for the wide trip, he’s shown repeatedly to be a cut below the best. QUANTUM LEAP, who was ninth, raced forwardly between Nova Rags and Soup and Sandwich for much of the first turn before easing back entering the backstretch. He followed Soup and Sandwich down the backstretch, was asked to try and keep up three furlongs out while right outside Known Agenda, but had nothing and readily retreated. JIRAFALES, who was 10th, added front leg wraps for this race. He bobbled slightly leaving the gate, saved ground toward the rear of the field around the first turn, was in traffic between rivals for much of the backstretch, but began to give way steadily three furlongs out. SIGILOSO, who finished last of 11, stumbled leaving the gate, was three paths wide entering the first turn, was between Known Agenda and Spielberg entering the backstretch, moved closer while tugging hard down the backstretch, went into the far turn in the three path, but backed out of it and faded.