Baffert's Desert Gate is heavy favorite in Texas Derby

Hot Springs Stakes winner Desert Gate is the 2-5 favorite for the Texas Derby for 3-year-olds Monday at Lone Star Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Texas Derby goes as the eighth of 12 races, with probable post time 5:55 p.m. EDT. The card features six stakes races, including the Steve Sexton Mile (G3).

Desert Gate hasn't started since a front-running 9 3/4-length victory in the Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 mile March 26 at Oaklawn for trainer Bob Baffert. Desert Gate, a son of Omaha Beach, ranked among the country's top 2-year-olds after winning the Best Pal Stakes (G3) and finishing second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and American Pharoah (G1).

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Desert Gate for the first time in the Texas Derby, which drew a field of six.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has three entrants, including Maximum Effort (4-1) and Vintage Cowboy (12-1). Chad Allan (6-1) exits a runner-up finish in the Bathhouse Row at Oaklawn for trainer Robert Young.

The Steve Sexton Mile field includes Heavenville, Neoequos, Will Take It, Komorebino Omoide, This Is Uscar, Publisher and Heroic Move. It is the final race on the card.

Publisher (3-1) won the American Pharoah Overnight March 28 at Oaklawn for Asmussen and exits a fourth-place finish behind White Abarrio, reigning horse of the year Sovereignty and Journalism in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 18.

Neoequos and Will Take It finished third and fifth, respectively, in the Oaklawn Mile (G3) March 28. Will Take It won the Fifth Season Feb. 5 at Oaklawn.

Komorebino Omoide won the 2025 Steve Sexton Mile under Ramon Vazquez, who has the return call Monday. This Is Uscar and Heroic Move finished second and third, respectively, in that race.