DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert tightened his grip on the 2-year-old male division Saturday at Del Mar, where heavily favored Desert Gate crushed the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes by 8 3/4 lengths.
Desert Gate ($2.40) gave Baffert his 12th win in the Best Pal, and added another name to his growing list of candidates for the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7. Brant and Buetane both scored sharp debut wins this summer to emerge as Futurity prospects, along with Desert Gate.
Although Baffert did not commit any to the Futurity, Desert Gate clearly belongs after his Best Pal runaway. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Desert Gate raced six furlongs in 1:10.37; his margin was the largest since 2018 when Instagrand won the Best Pal by 10 1/4 lengths.
Desert Gate was making his first start since a sharp debut victory on June 13 at Santa Anita. The only guidance Baffert offered Hernandez before the Best Pal was make sure he breaks cleanly. Desert Gate popped the gate, pressured pacesetter Punto Forty to near the quarter pole, then broke it open.
“He broke really sharp, and I had the advantage outside,” Hernandez said. “He tried to take off at the three-eighths, I just kind of waited a little longer.”
After the opening quarter-mile in 22.66 seconds and a half-mile in 45.31, Desert Gate disposed of Punto Forty, opened up, and won geared down. “He crossed the wire like he was galloping,” Hernandez said.
Pavlovian rallied to second, a length in front of Brigante. Punto Forty tired to fourth, followed by St Petersburg.
Desert Gate was third Best Pal victory for longtime Baffert clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. The ownership group won the 2022 Best Pal with Havnameltdown and 2009 Best Pal with Lookin at Lucky.
Desert Gate is an Omaha Beach colt purchased as a 2-year-old for $260,000. Favorites are 6 for 11 in the Best Pal since Del Mar reinstalled dirt in 2015.
* Earlier on Saturday, Baffert-trained 2-year-old filly Bottle of Rouge punched her ticket to the seven-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 6 with a decisive maiden win in her second start. Owned by Baffert’s wife Jill, Bottle of Rouge won by 6 3/4 lengths under Hernandez.
The filly who defeated Bottle of Rogue first time out, Himika, is the odds-on favorite Sunday in the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes. Bottle of Rouge is by Vino Rosso. “She’s bred to go two turns,” Baffert said. “I’m not going to ship her.”
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