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2023 Belmont Stakes Odds, Picks, Post Positions: Angel of Empire

By US Racing Team

The $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) is the final leg of the Triple Crown. The 155th running of the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion” is Saturday, June 10. US Racing will be publishing profiles on all the contenders, including updated versions with odds and post-positions following the gate draw on Tuesday, June 6.

2023 Belmont Stakes Entries

ANGEL OF EMPIRE

Trainer Brad Cox is perfect in the Belmont Stakes – 1-for-1 with Essential Quality’s victory in the 2021 edition.

It looks like he’ll go with a three-pronged attack to try and make it 2-for-2 with Angel of Empire and Hit Show, who finished third and fifth, respectively, in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and new shooter Tapit Shoes.

Angel of Empire is considered among the top 3-year-olds in the country along with Derby winner Mage and Florida Derby (G1) winner Forte.

Sent off as the 4-1 favorite in the Run for the Roses, Angel of Empire finished 1 ½ lengths behind Mage and a half-length behind runner-up Two Phil’s.

That puts the Arkansas Derby (G1) winner as the best Derby finisher in the Belmont. He’s worked twice since the Derby, the most recent a 5-furlong breeze in 59.80 seconds at Churchill Downs on May 27.

In the Derby, Angel of Empire moved from 10th to third from the quarter pole into the stretch for a solid finish despite bumping with Raise Cain in mid-stretch.

“Angel of Empire ran well. It was a hot pace. Down the backside he had a few beat,’’ Cox said. “I don’t know where the winner was laying. We had a little bit of excitement down the lane. I thought he (Angel of Empire) had a shot.”

As for the added distance in the Belmont, Cox said, “Given another quarter mile at Belmont next Saturday, (we’re) looking forward to the opportunity.”

Angel of Empire also won the Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds and has four victories in seven starts.

Give the son of Classic Empire a solid chance to win this one.

2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders: Angel of Empire

Post position: 8

Odds: 7-2

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Owners: Albaugh Family Stables, LLC

Career record: 7-4-1-1

Career earnings: $1,369,375

Best Equibase speed figure: 106

Pedigree: Classic Empire- Anthony’s Angel, by To Honor and Serve

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Notes: Angel of Empire was purchased for $70,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale … This will be the Albaugh Family Stables third Belmont – the owners ran sixth with Brody’s Cause in 2016 and seventh with Free Drop Billy in 2018 … Prat ran second in 2021 aboard Hot Rod Charlie and fourth aboard We the People in 2022.

2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders, Odds and Post Positions

PP Horse Odds Jockey Trainer
1 Tapit Shoes 3-1 Brad H. Cox Jose Ortiz
2 Tapit Trice 3-1 Todd A. Pletcher Luis Saez
3 Arcangelo 8-1 Jena M. Antonucci Javier Castellano
4 National Treasure 5-1 Bob Baffert John R. Velazquez
5 Il Miracolo 30-1 Antonio Sano Marcos Meneses
6 Forte 5-2 Todd A. Pletcher Irad Ortiz, Jr.
7 Hit Show 10-1 Brad H. Cox Manuel Franco
8 Angel of Empire 7-2 Brad H. Cox Flavien Prat
9 Red Route One 15-1 Steve M. Asmussen Joel Rosario
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