Known Agenda Retired, Will Stand at Spendthrift Farm

Known Agenda  , a grade 1-winning son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin  , has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Spendthrift Farm in 2022, the farm announced Aug. 25.

The 3-year-old homebred for Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables will stand for an introductory fee of $10,000, with a stands and nurses guarantee, and will be offered through the farm's "Share the Upside" program on a limited basis. He is available for inspection by appointment.

Known Agenda won three of his eight starts, earning his grade 1 credentials in the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) by 2 3/4 lengths.

"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," said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. "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 bred Known Agenda out of the Byron  mare Byrama , who won the 2013 Vanity Handicap (G1) and placed in two other grade 1s that year. The colt is the mare's third foal, first winner, and first stakes winner.

Known Agenda broke his maiden as a 2-year-old last fall at Aqueduct Racetrack, defeating eventual Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Greatest Honour . He was also third in last year's Remsen Stakes (G2). On his seasonal debut at 3, he was unplaced in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) before taking a Gulfstream Park allowance optional claiming race by 11 lengths when blinkers were added ahead of the Florida Derby.

Known Agenda started in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), where he finished ninth after starting from the rail. He went on to finish fourth in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) in what proved to be the final start of his career. He was retired with a 3-1-1 record and earned $641,700.

"We are excited to be standing Known Agenda, our first homebred to go to stud, at Spendthrift Farm," said Viola. "This colt showed early promise at 2 and continued to move forward at 3 with a dominant victory in the Florida Derby. We are 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."

"Known Agenda reminded me a great deal of Vino Rosso," said Pletcher. "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  ."