Desert Gate staked his claim as an early candidate for champion two-year-old male honors with an effortless triumph in Saturday’s $150,000 Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar.

The Best Pal (G3) will serve as a duel between Bob Baffert and O'Neill, as the pair collectively condition all five Best Pal entrants.

The aptly-named Getaway Car extended his record to 2-for-2 in Sunday’s $147,000 Best Pal (G3), the stepping stone to the Del Mar Futurity (G1).

Sunday’s $200,000 Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar shaped up as a battle between Bob Baffert debut winners, but the skirmish didn’t last long.

Bob Baffert is well positioned for a 10th victory in the $200,000 Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar on Sunday, with rollicking debut winners Muth and Prince of Monaco entered in a small field of five.

Pace rivals tried to make Havnameltdown live up to his name in Sunday’s Best Pal (G3), but the 1-2 favorite proved too hot to handle at Del Mar.

East Coast shippers swept both graded stakes at Del Mar Saturday, Pappacap in the Best Pal S. (G2) and Princess Grace in the Yellow Ribbon H. (G2).