PA-Bred Angel Of Empire Appears To Make Belmont Stakes Historical past

May the third race be the allure? The Belmont Stakes, the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, is about for Saturday in Elmont, New York. And Pennsylvania-bred Angel of Empire enters because the third favourite when wanting on the Belmont odds.

Angel of Empire, which was born and raised on Pine Grove’s Blackstone Farm in Schuylkill County, completed third within the Kentucky Derby, then skipped the Preakness Stakes to relaxation. It’s believed the longer race at Belmont Park (1.5 miles) will go well with the horse effectively.

If Angel of Empire (presently listed at 7-2 to win) can emerge with a victory on Saturday, he can be the primary Pennsylvania horse to win the Belmont Stakes since Saunterer in 1881. Some PA horses have come shut and others fared effectively within the early Triple Crown races earlier than tapering off in New York.

Let’s check out some memorable Pennsylvania horse racing opponents and the way they fared on the Belmont Stakes.

Noteworthy Pennsylvania horses and their Belmont performances

Many horses select to not run within the Preakness to deal with the Belmont. We’ll see if this pays off for PA’s Angel of Empire this weekend.

“Pimlico (house of the Preakness Stakes) is a shorter observe that favors pace. Angel must stand up a head of steam and provides a ultimate kick,“ Doug Black, co-owner of the Blackstone Farm the place Angel of Empire was raised, mentioned in a latest article for the Pottsville Republican and Herald. “He’ll have 5 weeks relaxation and he’ll do his factor on the Belmont.”

A victory can be large and place the horse amongst among the prime opponents to characterize the Keystone State, together with these on this record.

Smarty Jones

Any severe record of well-known Pennsylvania race horses often begins with Smarty Jones. The PA-bred horse (from Sometime Farm in New Hope, PA) gained the 2004 Kentucky Derby after which the Preakness to have a shot at horse racing’s storied Triple Crown.

Alas, Smarty Jones led a part of the Belmont Stakes, however misplaced out to Birdstone, leaving his legacy as a memorable one, simply not a legendary one.

Exhausting Spun

This horse, which was foaled close to Malvern and owned by Fox Hill Farms, had a formidable run through the Triple Crown races in 2007. Exhausting Spun completed second within the Kentucky Derby that yr, third within the Preakness Stakes and fourth within the Belmont Stakes.

In complete, Exhausting Spun had profession earnings of over $2.5 million.

Lil E. Tee

The horse from Pin Oak Lane Farm in southern Pennsylvania joins Smarty Jones as Pennsylvania’s solely different Kentucky Derby winner. Lil E. Tee completed second within the Arkansas Derby after which captured the Kentucky Derby at 16-1 odds in 1992, giving jockey Pat Day his solely Derby win.

Lil E. Tee completed fifth on the Preakness and ultimately missed the Belmont Stakes with an sickness.

Saunterer

You need to return virtually 150 years, however the PA-bred horse did win on the Belmont and one other Triple Crown race in 1881.

Saunterer, who was bred by Aristides Welch, completed first in each the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. No Pennsylvania horse has gained the Belmont since.

Go for Wand

This Unionville, PA-bred horse was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame in 1996 after a standout profession that included 10 wins in her first 12 begins.

Sadly, a severe harm at Belmont Park within the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Distaff ended her profession prematurely, however not earlier than signature wins within the Ashland Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, amongst others.

Angel of Empire appears to be like to construct on third-place end within the Kentucky Derby

Angel of Empire is probably Pennsylvania’s most promising racehorse since Smarty Jones. The horse was among the many favorites for the Kentucky Derby, however began at put up No. 14 and fell towards the again of the pack early within the race. Nevertheless, Angel of Empire unleashed a livid kick that resulted in a third-place end.

Mage gained the Kentucky Derby in what was a large upset (15-1 odds), whereas Two Phils completed second. Neither of these horses are within the Belmont Stakes discipline on Saturday. Forte, which was a Kentucky Derby favourite earlier than being a late scratch, is again for Saturday’s race and has been put in because the favourite at 5-2.

Tapit Trice, which drew the No. 6 put up, is the second favourite (3-1) after ending seventh within the Kentucky Derby.

After which there’s Angel of Empire, the third favourite at 7-2, ranging from the No. 8 place. The horse is educated by Brad H. Cox, who gained the Belmont Stakes in 2021 with Important High quality.

Jockey Flavien Prat brings a strong resume to the Belmont Stakes

Angel of Empire can be manned by jockey Flavien Prat on Saturday. Prat has raced within the Belmont Stakes twice earlier than, highlighted by a second-place end with Sizzling Rod Charlie in 2021.

He additionally held the lead for many of final yr’s race with We The Individuals earlier than ending fourth. Prat has earlier Triple Crown wins on the Kentucky Derby in 2019 and the Preakness Stakes in 2021.

2023 Belmont Stakes put up positions and opening odds

The put up time for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes is about for 6:57 p.m., with tv protection airing on Fox Sports activities.

Different notable entrants within the race embody Nationwide Treasure (5-1), a horse educated by Bob Bafftert within the No. 4 put up. In the meantime, Arcangelo (8-1) is racing for historical past, hoping to make coach Jena Antonucci change into the primary girl to win the Belmont Stakes.

The entire lineup for Saturday’s race (with put up positions and opening odds) is as follows: