Angel of Empire and Tapit Trice are the betting favorites on Saturday morning to win the Kentucky Derby after Forte scratched from the race.

The loss of the Florida Derby winner and morning-line favorite put a dramatic twist into Saturday’s wagering on the 149th Run for the Roses.

Forte had been at 3-1 in the morning-line odds and had the shortest odds in pari-mutuel wagering at 4-1 on Friday night.

With Forte’s withdrawal, the colts with the most backing from bettors to win the Kentucky Derby at 9:30 a.m. CDT Saturday were Angel of Empire and Tapit Trice at 9-2 each.

Angel of Empire comes to the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Arkansas Derby. Tapit Trice won the Blue Grass in his previous outing.

Also drawing support from bettors were Derma Sotogake and Two Phil’s at 7-1 apiece and Kingsbarns at 10-1.

The longest of the long shots with bettors is Cyclone Mischief at 33-1. 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.

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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 8 a.m. Saturday for the 149th Kentucky Derby include:

1. Hit Show 26-1

2. Verifying 17-1

3. Two Phil’s 7-1

4. Confidence Game 16-1

5. Tapit Thrice 9-2

6. Kingsbarns 10-1

7. Reincarnate 13-1

8. Mage 17-1

9. Disarm 24-1

10. Jace’s Road 32-1

11. Sun Thunder 30-1

12. Angel of Empire 9-2

13. Raise Cain 30-1

14. Derma Sotogake 7-1

15. Rocket Can 27-1

16. Cyclone Mischief 33-1

17. Mandarin Hero 21-1

18. King Russell 32-1

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.