Baffert retains hot touch with juveniles

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert continued his strong run in 2-year-old maiden races last weekend when the colt Cairo Healer and the filly Life’s Blessings both won their debuts. He has high hopes for both.

Cairo Healer, named by owner Ahmed Zayat for his father – who recently died – fled the rail when winning on Sunday.

“He’s really improved,” Baffert said of the son of Giant’s Causeway. “He’s the most-improved horse in the barn. He was a little nut case.

“He wore a come-to-me bit, a really severe bit. He used to go straight when he got to the turn, but not with that bit.”

Life’s Blessings, a daughter of Tapit out of two-time champion Indian Blessing, showed sharp acceleration when beating fillies on Saturday. She is a homebred for Hal and Patti Earnhardt.

“She might have been a work away,” Baffert said. “I needed to get a race into her. I think she’s pretty talented.”