Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

Known Agenda Odds to Win the 2021 Kentucky Derby with Picks and Predictions

by Chris Vasile - 4/22/2021

Kentucky Derby 2019

Wherever Todd Pletcher goes, and whatever Todd Pletcher does, the whole horse racing industry and betting public is watching. Pletcher will send out four runners in this year’s edition of the Kentucky Derby, and perhaps none of them have a better chance to win the race than Known Agenda, who is looking to pick up his third win in a row in one of the most famous races in the horse racing industry. Can he do it? Only time will tell.

Odds: Known Agenda is currently the third betting favorite on the futures board as he’s listed at +700 to +800 online and a shocking +1200 at WilliamHill. I urge you to shop around for the best available line as you see the above price differences can cost you a few hundred bucks if this horse wins.

Breeding: In order to understand the breeding and pedigree of Known Agenda, we must first look at the family tree (if you will). Known Agenda is a chestnut colt, bred in Kentucky by way of the great Curlin and Byrama (GB). Curlin is a two-time Horse of the Year and had a tremendous career at the races. In total, Curlin won 10 stakes races (11 total) in 16 starts, including the Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Jockey Gold Club, and the Arkansas Derby. He was bred to go long, and Known Agenda will definitely benefit from that trait in the Kentucky Derby. His mom, Byrama, was just a five-time winner but finished second on seven occasions. She was bred for sprinting as she never ran longer than 7F, so the speed aspect is available for Known Agenda to tap into.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher has been around the horse racing game long enough to accumulate some pretty impressive accolades on his resume. Pletcher notched his record-setting sixth Florida Derby win with Known Agenda’s triumph in March. Pletcher has more than 5,000 wins in his illustrious career, and those include 10 Breeders’ Cups wins, four wins in Canadian Triple Crown races (Queens Plate, Prince of Wales, and Breeders Stakes), three Kentucky Oaks (2004, 2007 and 2013), two Kentucky Derby wins (2010, 2017) and three Belmont Stakes (2007, 2013, 2017). This year alone, Pletcher is winning at a 25% clip over 301 starts, which is currently his best winning rate since 2012 when he connected at 27 percent for the entire year (855 starts).

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. has been in the saddle every step of the way and will be in once again when he enters the starting gate on May 1. Ortiz Jr. has been nothing short of spectacular this year as he leads the Gulfstream meet with 142 wins in 506 starts, which is a whopping 28 percent win percentage. Ortiz also has 11 stakes wins so far this year and is in prime position to add another big race to his resume, having already won races like the Breeders’ Cups events and the Belmont Stakes, which part of the Triple Crown.

Last race: Known Agenda’s last race came in the Florida Derby on March 27, 2020, at Gulfstream Park. In that event, he went off at 5-1 with newly added blinkers and rode the rail in mid-pack for the majority of the race before making his move off the rail and into the three-path at the quarter pole and pulling away to win by two-and-a-half lengths. It was more work than it should have been against a field that was below his talent level. However, the fact that he grinded out a win while keeping some effort in reserve goes to show you the talent this horse has.

Prior experience: Known Agenda made his debut as a two-year-old on September 27, 2020, at Belmont. He finished second in a six-and-a-half-furlong Maiden Special Weight race before breaking his Maiden in a 1 1/8-mile race at Aqueduct. From there, he finished third and fifth in two stakes races in December and February, respectively. In February, Known Agenda won an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Gulfstream before running in and winning the Florida Derby.

Can Known Agenda Win the 2021 Kentucky Derby?

If you are a horse bettor who loves to bet on jockey/trainer combos, then this is the horse for you. Pletcher is having himself a tremendous season, and Ortiz Jr. simply cannot keep himself out of the winner’s circle it seems. Known Agenda has the pedigree needed to win a big race such as the Kentucky Derby as he’s got the stamina trait from the great Curlin. He will most definitely be in my exotic bets. And if the price is right – which I’m sure it won’t be because the Pletcher and Ortiz is usually a fan favorite to bet on – I’ll be looking to play him on a win ticket as well.

Want free Kentucky Derby picks for 2021? Our experts are the best Kentucky Derby handicappers in the nation, and you can get their picks free (first-time clients only), Get $60 worth of Kentucky Derby premium members’ picks free.

 

Most Recent Kentucky Derby Picks and Predictions

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers