With his mind halfway on the job at hand, Pioneerof the Nile extended his stakes-winning streak to three races in Saturday’s $200,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

The victory puts Pioneerof the Nile on course for a first-time matchup with two-time stakes winner The Pamplemousse in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

In the Grade 2 San Felipe, Pioneerof the Nile ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.35, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Feisty Suances. It appeared as if the winning margin would be much greater in early stretch when Pioneerof the Nile reached the front, but he needed reminders from jockey Garrett Gomez through the stretch.

Pioneerof the Nile has won 4 of 7 starts and $784,200 for Zayat Stables. Trained by Bob Baffert, Pioneerof the Nile is now unbeaten in his last three starts, a streak that includes the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity in December and the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes last month. All three races have been over 1 1/16 miles.