Desert Gate cruises in $300,000 Texas Derby

Bob Baffert shipped Desert Gate to Texas for Lone Star Park’s Texas Derby on Memorial Day and the 3-year-old colt responded with a 6 ¼-length win for his third career stakes win.

The outcome was never in doubt after Desert Gate took command three furlongs into the 1 1/16-mile race. He opened the margin to 3 ½-lengths after six furlongs and was all alone the rest of the way, stopping the timer in 1:44.53 on a fast track.

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Desert Gate won the Best Pal S. (G3) at two and took the March 26^th Hot Springs S. at Oaklawn in his most recent start prior to Monday. His record now stands at 4-2-0, with earnings of $549,300.

Desert Gate was bred in Kentucky by Twin Oaks Bloodstock and is out of the multiple stakes winner Theogony.