Kentucky Derby 2023 updated live odds: Angel of Empire emerges as favorite

An influx of late money is going to send Angel of Empire off as the favorite in the 149th Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

With less than 35 minutes until post time for the Run for the Roses, the odds on Angel of Empire to win quickly dropped to 7-2 after holding at 9-2 for much of the afternoon.

The Saturday morning withdrawal of Forte, a four-time winner of Grade 1 stakes, left only two colts in the field of 18 who had won at least one Grade 1 stakes – Angel of Empire in the Arkansas Derby and Tapit Trice in the Blue Grass Stakes. And Angel of Empire and Tapit Trice had been backed at the same rate throughout Saturday morning to share the favorite billing at 9-2.

In pari-mutuel wagering this afternoon, Angel of Empire edged ahead to 4-1 in the 12:34 p.m. CDT update. But at 2:58 p.m. Saturday, Angel of Empire and Tapit Trice were both back at 9-2 with bettors, and they stayed that way until less than an hour before the race.

Tapit Trice remained at 9-2 at the 5:20 p.m. odds update.

Also drawing support from bettors were Derma Sotogake at 8-1 and Two Phil’s at 9-1.

Derma Sotogake won the UAE Derby, and Two Phil’s won the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

The longest of the long shots with bettors are Jace’s Road, Sun Thunder, Raise Cain and King Russell at 31-1. Last year, Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby at 80-1, the second-longest odds ever for the winner of the Run for the Roses.

Post time for the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 5:57 p.m. CDT Saturday. NBC is televising the race.

The post positions and the betting odds at 5:20 p.m. Saturday for the 149th Kentucky Derby include:

1. Hit Show 25-1

2. Verifying 15-1

3. Two Phil’s 9-1

4. Confidence Game 19-1

5. Tapit Thrice 9-2

6. Kingsbarns 11-1

7. Reincarnate 13-1

8. Mage 17-1

9. Disarm 26-1

10. Jace’s Road 31-1

11. Sun Thunder 31-1

12. Angel of Empire 7-2

13. Raise Cain 31-1