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Angel of Empire pays a sweet $80 for every $10 bet and had the third shortest odds of winning this year's Kentucky Derby.
Why Angel of Empire Should Win The Kentucky Derby
Angel of Empire won the Arkansas Derby, Risen Star and finished 2nd in the Smarty Jones before that.
The Arkansas Derby has produced three Kentucky Derby winners including Sunny's Halo in 1983, Smarty Jones in 2004 and American Pharoah in 2015.
Mandaloun gave Angel of Empire trainer Brad Cox his first Derby win in 2021. Granted that win occurred after Medina Spirit's disqualification for doping.
Jockey Flavien Prat has four starts in the Kentucky Derby win one win.
Post Position Draw Rating
14 - Two winners
Some Food for Thought
No winner of the Risen Star Stakes has gone on to win the Kentucky Derby.
That race had already secured Angel of Empire a spot in his year's Derby.
Trainer Cox won his second consecutive Arkansas Derby.
"It was a big run," he said after that victory. "We always saw him as a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-an-eighth horse, and now he's won twice at a mile-and-an-eighth. His sire won this race and I think he'll do better with more distance."
Early Odds to Win the 2023 Kentucky Derby
Forte 3-1
Tapit Trice 13-2
Angel of Empire 8-1
Derma Sotagake 10-1
Practical Move 10-1
Kingsbarns 12-1
Verifying 12-1
Mage 20-1
Two Phil's 25-1
Skinner 28-1
Confidence Game 33-1
Continuar 33-1
Disarm 33-1
Hit Show 33-1
Lord Miles 40-1
Reincarnate 40-1
Rocket Can 40-1
Jace's Road 50-1
Raise Cain 66-1
Sun Thunder 66-1
Wild On Ice 100-1
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
