LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - APRIL 29: Angel of Empire runs on the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 29, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
If Angel of Empire wins, he would become the third Pennsylvania-bred horse to win the Derby after Lil E. Tee in 1992 and Smarty Jones in 2004.
It’s been a long time since Pennsylvania could lay claim to a Kentucky Derby winner, but that could change this weekend.
Pennsylvania-bred horse Angel of Empire is running in the 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, becoming the 7th Pennsylvania-bred horse to run at the Derby since Smarty Jones won it in 2004.
Angel of Empire was born in April 2020 at the Blackstone Farm in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County. The horse was sold at auction in September 2021 for $70,000 to Albaugh Family Stables in Iowa.
Experts feel Angel of Empire has a good shot at winning the Derby after his 4¼-length victory in the Arkansas Derby last month. The horse has the third-best odds to win at 8-1.
Angel of Empire will start in the 14th post position in the 20-horse race, and is one of four horses running in the Derby trained by Brad Cox.
Should Angel of Empire win, he would become the third Pennsylvania-bred horse to win the Derby after Lil E. Tee in 1992 and Smarty Jones in 2004.
Post time for the race is 5:57 p.m. Saturday. You can watch the race on NBC or stream it via Peacock.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
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