2023 Kentucky Derby Entries Odds and Predictions: Angel of Empire

The 149th Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve will be run on Saturday, May 6, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The purse is $3 million, with $1.86 million going to the winner. US Racing is profiling each horse in the field. The post-position draw is Monday, May 1. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw.

By US Racing Team

Despite toting a different jockey in five of his six career starts, Angel of Empire has earned over $1 million, won a Grade 2, a Grade 1, and is among the favorites to win the Kentucky Derby (G1).

This is one solid, talented 3-year-old, and who knows how well he’ll run with a familiar rider aboard – Flavien Prat, who guided him to victory in his final prep, the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park on April 1.

One of four Derby entries from the barn of Brad Cox, Angel of Empire worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.40 at Churchill Downs on April 29 under jockey Chris Landeros, who filled in for Prat.

“He seems to have a lot of gears,” Landeros said. “He’s a really nice colt and worked easily.”

Prior to his 4 ¼-length win in the Arkansas Derby, Angel of Empire won the Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds (Luis Saez aboard), defeating several other Derby qualifiers, including Sun Thunder and Two Phil’s. He finished third on the Derby leaderboard with154 points.

A colt who likes to run off the pace, Angel of Empire delivered a surging move from sixth to first by the quarter pole and sailed home in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby.

“Very impressed with this horse, how he ran today,” Cox said after the race. “He came home quick, and he’s a horse that the longer the better.”

The son of Classic Empire is familiar with the Churchill Downs surface. He was trained there last summer, before breaking his maiden at first asking in August at Horseshoe Indianapolis under Marcellino Pedroza, Jr. — who also was aboard for an allowance victory in November at the same track.

In his first go in a stakes race, he ran a non-threatening second in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn with Joe Talamo in the irons.

2023 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Angel of Empire

Post position: 14

Odds: 8-1

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Owners: Albaugh Family Stables LLC

Career record: 6-4-1-1

Career earnings: $1,069,375

Derby qualifying points: 154 (3rd)

Best Equibase speed figure: 106

Pedigree: Classic Empire-Armony’s Angel, by To Honor And Serve

Color: Bay

Running style: Off the pace

Notes: Notes: Angel of Empire has finished first or second in all five appearances on dirt. He ran sixth in his one turf sprint at Kentucky Downs … Would be the third Pennsylvania bred to win the Derby – the two who did are Smarty Jones (2004) and Lil E. Tee (1992) …Sold for $70,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale … This will be Prat’s sixth Derby – he has won win, Country House, who was declared the 2019 winner after first-place finisher Maximum Security was disqualified for interference.