Updated: A Pennsylvania-born horse becomes new favorite in 2023 Kentucky Derby

Matt DiSanto
·3 min read
3
Angel of Empire with exercise jockey Edvin Vargas up runs on the track during morning training for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, April 29, 2023.

There’s only one Pennsylvania-born horse vying for the garland of roses Saturday in the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby -- and he just became a new favorite.

Angel of Empire, hailing from Pine Grove at Blackstone Farm in Schuylkill County, had good 8-1 odds even before five scratches, the latest of which was top dog Forte early Saturday morning, leading to a major shake-up.

As of mid-afternoon, Angel of Empire’s odds stood at an even better 4-1.

Here’s what to know about this top Derby contender.

Everything we know about Angel of Empire

Foaled April 9, 2020, the horse was sold at auction at Keeneland for $70,000 in September 2021 to the Iowa-based Albaugh Family Stables, WGAL News reports.

Angel of Empire’s sire, Classic Empire, finished fourth in the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

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Christian Black and Doug Black of Blackstone Farm, who have no relation, described Angel of Empire as a healthy horse with a distinct personality that never caused trouble. He grew up on the farm for about 17 months before selling at auction.

“It’ll be great for Pennsylvania,” Christian told WGAL News while describing Angel of Empire’s high-profile race as a boost for the Keystone State’s thoroughbred industry.

Angel of Empire is the only entrant in the derby’s original 20-horse field to hail from Pennsylvania. Seventeen horses that were first selected to compete in the 2023 race are native to Kentucky, while two others — Continuar and Derma Sotogake — were born in Japan.

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Angel of Empire will compete in the Kentucky Derby with the help of jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Brad H. Cox. Prat previously won the 2019 Kentucky Derby and the 2021 Preakness Stakes.

Before the Run for the Roses, Angel of Empire placed second in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn, won the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Ground in February and won the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn April 1, ultimately compiling 154 points on the Derby leaderboard.

Angel of Empire is expected to have a good shot at winning the Kentucky Derby, according to the morning-line odds. Following the dramatic scratch of Forte, the overwhelming betting favorite, Angel of Empire (8-1) has the second-shortest odds to finish in first place, closely trailing Tapit Trice (5-1).

2023 Kentucky Derby

When: 6:57 p.m. Saturday, May 6

Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

TV: NBC and Peacock

Purse: $3 million (Grade 1)

Distance: 1 1/4 miles

For: 3-year-old thoroughbreds

Thursday brought a handful of changes to the Run for the Roses’ field. First, Practical Move was scratched due to an elevated temperature. Lord Miles was scratched, too, following the suspension of its trainer. Japanese-hailing Continuar was scratched Thursday night due to fitness concerns from trainer Yoshito Yahagi, Churchill Downs reported.

Friday, Skinner was scratched due to an elevated temperature, marking the fourth horse among the original 20 entrants to exit the field.

Forte, the overwhelming favorite to win the race with 3-1 morning-line odds, was scratched Saturday morning amid health concerns, including skepticism surrounding a bruised right front foot.

All three also-eligible horses have already entered the now-18-horse Derby field. Following Friday’s 9 a.m. deadline, any additional scratches will reduce the field’s size.

The last time four horses were scratched from the Kentucky Derby was in 2015. Nineteen horses went to post in 2021, marking the most recent race with fewer than 20 horses.

Due to the scratches, the field’s newly added horses — Cyclone Mischief, Mandarin Hero and King Russell — will respectively break from posts No. 16, 17 and 18, though their program numbers will respectively remain No. 21, 22 and 23.

This story was updated at 2:14 p.m., May 6 to reflect the latest changes to the horses eligible to run.

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