Greatest Honour denied by Known Agenda

HALLANDALE BEACH — Known Agenda, the last horse to defeat Greatest Honour, did it again Saturday in the $750,000 Florida Derby.

Greatest Honour, who came into the race on a three-race winning streak, was sent away as the 4-5 favorite but could manage only to get up for third after a difficult trip. Soup and Sandwich, who was prominent throughout, held the place.

Irad Ortiz Jr. bided his time with Known Agenda, a 5-1 shot, rating him in mid-pack most of the way.

He picked up the pace going to the far turn while awaiting room on the inside. As soon as the opportunity presented itself at the top of the stretch, Ortiz asked Known Agenda for his best and he responded as if put into overdrive.

He came on even turns with pace-setters Nova Rags and Soup and Sandwich as the field straightened for the stretch run. At this point it was clear Known Agenda was going best of all and he began to pull away. This style should serve him well in the Kentucky Derby, which is 220 yards longer than the Florida Derby.

Greatest Honour, who had won the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth, was next to last early then tried to follow the move of Known Agenda, who beat him by a head in an October race at Aqueduct. But Greatest

Honour couldn’t match the winner’s surge.

Known Agenda completed a mile and an eighth in 1:49.45, well off the stakes record of 1:46 4⁄5 in 1957. Ortiz equaled that mark earlier on the card.

The victory was the fifth in Gulfstream’s signature event for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won his 17th Gulfstream training title in 18 years. Pletcher’s 2017 Florida Derby winner, Always Dreaming, doubled up in the Kentucky Derby, the next stop for Known Agenda.