Florida Derby (G1) hero Known Agenda was one of the significant players heading into the 2021 Kentucky Derby, having finished fifth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 102 qualifying points.

However, the three-year-old colt disappointed at Churchill Downs, finishing in ninth place despite being one of the favourites for the race.

This sees Known Agenda have a 3-1-1 record from seven starts with current earnings of $541,700.

Known Agenda pulled a mild upset in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on March 27, picking up 100 points in the process.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. settled the colt in fifth place on the rail in the race's early stages. At the top of the stretch, Ortiz took the Chestnut colt to the outside. Known Agenda lengthened his stride, passed the tiring pacesetter Soup and Sandwich, and galloped under the wire two and three-quarter lengths in front. The final time for one-and-one-eighth miles was 1:49.45.

The Florida Derby is a primary Kentucky Derby prep race. Since 1956, 15 three-year-old colts have completed the Florida/Kentucky double. The most recent was Always Dreaming in 2017, who was also trained by Pletcher. St. Elias Stables owned a part of that Derby winner too.

Known Agenda kicked off his three-year-old season in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in February as the race favourite.

He settled near the back of the pack and had to go five-wide around the far turn. Known Agenda made up ground but didn't have his usual kick. He placed fifth, beaten by a head for fourth place, about four lengths behind the winner.

The Sam F. Davis effort set Curlin's son up for victory just 20 days later, where he dominated an allowance field by 11 lengths. The open-length victory propelled him to triumph in the Florida Derby.

As a two-year-old, Known Agenda placed second on his debut behind the experienced Highly Motivated at Belmont Park on September 27. That colt would later finish second in the Blue Grass Stakes and faced Known Agenda once more in the Kentucky Derby, with the two horses finishing just one place apart at Churchill Downs.

Known Agenda stretched to one-and-one-eighth miles in his second start - a maiden special weight at Aqueduct. He duelled down the stretch with Greatest Honour and overcame his rival by a head.

Greatest Honour later captured the Holy Bull (G3) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and was the favourite for the Florida Derby, where he finished third.

In his final start as a two-year-old, Known Agenda finished third in the Remsen Stakes (G3). He had a tough trip, bumping at the start and stuck six-wide throughout. The placing was enough to earn two Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer seven times, having begun his training career in 1996. Since then, he has amassed over $405million in earnings.

The silver-haired trainer set a single-season earnings record of $20,882,842 in 2005 and won 10 Grade 1 races. He set a new record for earnings a year later when four of his horses won graded stakes on the same day. The same year, Pletcher set a new North American record for most stakes wins in a year, breaking a 19-year-old record.

Heading into the 2021 edition, Pletcher owned another record as the trainer with the most Kentucky Derby starters with 55. Two, Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017, have won. Two other contenders finished second (Invisible Ink in 2001 and Bluegrass Cat in 2006), while four others have placed third.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. piloted Known Agenda in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. He has been the leading North America Rider by earnings and wins for each of the last three years. He also earned the Eclipse Award from 2018 through 2020 as Most Outstanding Jockey.

Ortiz, Jr. started his North American riding career in 2011 and a year later was runner-up as the Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. In 2019, Ortiz rode four Breeders' Cup winners, including the Classic winner, Vino Rosso.

Ortiz, Jr. had participated in four Kentucky Derbies prior to 2021. His best placing was in 2019 aboard Improbable, who finished fifth, but was moved to fourth place due to the winner's disqualification.

Vinnie and Teresa Vola's St. Elias Stables campaign their homebred, Known Agenda. The stable races some horses in their own name, including Grade 1 winners Sweet Loretta and Army Mule.

They often partner with others in horse ownership. Besides Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, St. Elias Stable owned Breeder's Cup Classic hero Vino Rosso in a partnership.

Known Agenda (Curlin - Byrama (GB) by Byron (GB)) is bred to improve with distance and racing.

Curlin was one of the best competitors of his generation. The large, muscular Chestnut was undefeated in his first three starts entering the 2007 Kentucky Derby. He placed third but returned to win the Preakness Stakes. Curlin then placed second, beaten a head in an epic, historic battle with the filly Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes.

Curlin reeled off victories in five consecutive races between September of his three-year-old season and June of his four-year-old season, including the Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup.

In his only foray onto the turf, Curlin finished second to the older Red Rocks in the Man o' War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Curlin earned Horse of the Year honors in 2007 and 2008. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014.

Curlin has sired six champions from 11 crops, including the aforementioned Vino Rosso. Although none of Curlin's sons have won the Kentucky Derby, they have come close. Exaggerator and Good Magic have both placed second, while Exaggerator won the Preakness. Palace Malice won the Belmont Stakes.

Known Agenda's female family has European roots. He is the third foal out of Byrama and currently the only stakes winner. Byrama spent much of her career in California and she was successful up to nine furlongs. Her most outstanding achievement was a victory in the nine-furlong Vanity Handicap (G1).