Del Mar Futurity Day produced more than one eye catching juvenile performance on Sunday, September 6. After Hughes captured the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, Desert Gate and Vanta added decisive stakes wins that gave the closing weekend another pair of horses to follow.
Desert Gate takes control in the Shared Belief
Desert Gate was sent off as the 4 to 5 favorite in the $126,000 Shared Belief Stakes for 3 year olds and delivered a commanding result. The Bob Baffert trainee won by 5 1/2 lengths, covering one mile on dirt in 1:36.25 under Juan Hernandez.
Mo Koko finished second, with Start the Ride third. The win gave Hernandez his fourth consecutive Shared Belief victory aboard a horse trained by Baffert and extended Baffert’s record in the race to 15 wins.
Desert Gate’s performance was especially notable because he did not need an uncontested lead to be effective. He settled behind the early pace before finishing strongly, a useful sign as his connections consider where to place him next.
Vanta finishes fast on turf
Later on the card, Vanta won the $102,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf by 2 1/2 lengths. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli for trainer Jeff Mullins, she completed the mile on turf in 1:36.30.
Blockade finished second and Ogle was third. Vanta returned $4.00 for a $2 win wager and reinforced her status as a juvenile turf filly worth monitoring as the fall calendar develops.
What the results mean
The two wins added depth to a day already headlined by Hughes’ dominant Del Mar Futurity victory. Desert Gate supplied a strong dirt performance among 3 year olds, while Vanta provided a separate juvenile turf angle that could matter as West Coast runners move into fall stakes.
Del Mar returns Monday, September 7 for the final day of the 2026 summer meet. The closing card includes the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes, where Thought Process heads the OTB Bet preview, as well as the I’m Smokin Stakes.
For the broader seasonal picture, follow the OTB Bet Race Center as the focus shifts from summer meetings toward the major fall championship races.
Primary reporting source: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Editorial image: Angelica Hasbon via Unsplash.
