In February, he won the grade two San Felipe Stakes at one mile and one sixteenth under jockey Chris McCarron at Santa Anita.
In March, Desert Wine won the grade three San Rafael Stakes at one mile at Santa Anita, guided again by jockey Chris McCarron.
After the Derby, trainer Jerry M. Fanning entered Desert Wine in the second jewel of the American Triple Crown in the $250,000 grade one Preakness Stakes.
Desert Wine died of a heart attack at age twenty-three on October 15, 2003, at St. Hilaire Farm near Yakima, Washington, owned by Gary L. and Christine Jackson, where he had stood at stud since 2000.
His progeny included Flamenco Wave, a successful racemare in Europe who produced three Group One winners as well as the dam of St Nicholas Abbey.