Free: Daily double bet at Santa Anita for Saturday, Jan. 24

ARCADIA, Calif. – Overlay opportunities are abundant Saturday at Santa Anita; the focus of this suggested “pick X” is the final two races. Big fields entered both. Race 9 is the $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic; race 10 is a $30,000 maiden-claiming sprint.

It is tempting to try stringing together more than two races to end the card. But the scratch of Big Macher from race 8, the California Cup Sprint, had made San Onofre into an odds-on favorite. Not interested in singling a 4-5 shot. Not interested trying to beat him.

:: CALIFORNIA CUP: Get PPs, watch Saturday’s Santa Anita card live

Instead, the play is a simple (2 x 1) daily double on the last final two races.

Race 9

ALERT BAY (3) is the 5-2 favorite based on four straight stakes wins, including a Grade 2 last out. The “most likely" winner, he will be formidable as the 5-2 favorite. No knocks other than price.

Meanwhile, an upset candidate lurks. BOOZER (9) could be the controlling speed in this 1 1/8-mile turf race. Although speed has been fading in long-distance turf races this meet, Booze could be loose at 8-1 in the program.

Still think Alert Bay will run him down, but Boozer is a must use.

Two deep: Alert Bay (3) and Boozer (9).

Race 10

The fourth-place finish last out by SHE GOT AWAY (6) was better than it looks. She was shuffled back on the turn, lost position, and finished evenly. It was a sneaky good effort by a filly who meets a soft bunch of $30,000 maiden-claimers.

She Got Away is the 7-2 program favorite. At that number, she is a low-odds overlay.

One deep: She Got Away (6).

The bet: $2 daily double

Alert Bay and Boozer (3 and 9) in race 9, to She Got Away (6) in race 10.

At $2 a pop, it won’t break the bank. Total investment is a mere $4.