Desert Gate wins Del Mar’s Shared Belief S. with authority

Desert Gate won the $125,000 Shared Belief S. Del Mar on Sept. 6 in dominating fashion, by 5 ½-lengths, to give the Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old his fourth career stakes win.

Winner of the Best Pal S. (G3) at two, 3-year-old Desert Gate won a pair of listed races earlier this year as well. In the one-mile Shared Belief, Desert Gate sat patiently behind the pacesetter Mo Koko for six furlongs then shot to the lead before turning for home. He bounded away to win with ease in 1:36.25 on a fast track.

“He was doing really great coming into this race,” Baffert said. “It’s fun to see him come back. He’s a fun horse to have. We can pick our spots with him.”

Desert Gate is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. He is now 5-2-0 in ten starts and has earned $661,725.