Best Pal, Yellow Ribbon highlight Del Mar Saturday card

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert hasn't won an other-worldly 18 editions of the Del Mar Futurity (G1) by relying on just one entrant in Del Mar's signature two-year-old event. While Brant is likely Baffert's ace for next month's Futurity, Desert Gate might qualify as an adequate Futurity backup with a strong performance Saturday in the $150,000 Best Pal (G3).

A six-furlong dash that Baffert has won 11 times, the Best Pal will serve as a duel between Baffert and trainer Doug O'Neill, as the pair collectively condition all five Best Pal entrants.

Desert Gate looms as the one to beat, though. The son of Omaha Beach was notably quick on debut June 13, stalking and pouncing his way to a 2 1/4-length win going five furlongs at Santa Anita while earning a commendable 95 Brisnet Speed rating.

Baffert's other entry is St Petersburg, an odds-on third first out to the O'Neill-trained Punto Forty at Los Alamitos later in June. Punto Forty is joined in the Best Pal by stablemates Brigante and Pavlovian. Brigante was runner-up in his debut on turf to Hay Nay Nay, subsequent seven-length winner of the Tyro S. at Monmouth Park, while Pavlovian graduated second out at Santa Anita against California-bred company.

Also featured at Del Mar on Saturday is the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon H. (G2), a 1 1/16-mile grass test for fillies and mares, and most of the field have won at the Grade 3 level or higher.

Hang the Moon, upset winner last season of the John C. Mabee (G2) and Rodeo Drive (G2), makes her first start since December for Phil D'Amato, while a new addition to the stable, Mission of Joy, has some back class from her days with trainer Graham Motion.

Motion himself ships Heredia in for the Yellow Ribbon from his Fair Hill, Maryland, base. The Dark Angel mare was beaten four lengths by Inspiral in the Sun Chariot (G1) last fall and has run a respectable third in a pair of starts in New York following her importation.

Liguria, who exits a third in the Gamely (G1) in late May, joins Hang the Moon as the only prior winner over the Del Mar turf in the Yellow Ribbon field.