Enforced Agenda wins on debut Sunday at Aqueduct

First-time starter Enforced Agenda sprang an upset Sunday at Aqueduct, stalking the pace before drawing off to score in a $85,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at 1 mile on the main track.

The St. Elias Stable homebred, sent off at 23-1 odds under Javier Castellano for trainer George Weaver, surged clear to defeat Felonious. Favorite Ottinho could only manage third in his career debut.

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The field featured several well-bred colts with prominent connections who could emerge as Kentucky Derby contenders in 2026. Ottinho, a Quality Road colt bred by Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Chad Brown, carried significant expectations as a half-brother to Gun Runner. The one-mile distance served as an early test of classic potential for these juvenile colts, and Enforced Agenda's debut victory puts him squarely on the radar heading into Kentucky Derby 2026 prep season.

Felonious and Fightforallegiance dueled early, setting opening fractions of 23.12 and 45.75 seconds. Enforced Agenda tracked in third through the early stages as the pace remained honest through three-quarters in 1:10.21. Ottinho and Flavien Prat advanced from midpack under Chad Brown's care.

Castellano asked Enforced Agenda for his best approaching the stretch, and the son of Liam's Map responded with a powerful move, drawing off in the final furlong to complete the mile in 1:35.80 on the fast surface.

Enforced Agenda returned $48.72, $20.24 and $11.38 across the board. Felonious, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, paid $8.32 and $5.62. Ottinho returned $3.08 to show.

The winning exacta paid $217.09, the trifecta returned $451.56 and the superfecta was worth $307.26.

Bred in Kentucky by St. Elias Stables, Enforced Agenda is out of the Tapit mare Heart and Hope. Gulfy finished fourth.