Free: How I'd play Santa Anita for Sunday, Feb. 15

ARCADIA, Calif. – A pick three in the middle of the card is the suggested play Sunday at Santa Anita.

Race 4

LUCKY J LANE (5) returned to turf and trounced California-bred allowance foes last out. If he runs two alike, he should handle the class hike to open company and win this first-level allowance. What is the only knock? It’s price. Lucky J Lane is the 5-2 favorite.

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An upset candidate lurks in BUFFALO (8), dropping from a second-level allowance and stretching to a mile. In a field that is short on pace, Buffalo has an upset chance at 8-1. This pick three will use the favorite, and the outsider.

Use: Lucky J Lane and Buffalo (5, 8)

Race 5

All four maiden-20 routes this meet have been won by the favorite, so perhaps it is silly to go three deep in this maiden-20 route. But favorite STARZILLA (1) is only moderate, and CRUCERO (8) has back numbers that would crush. Along with first-time gelding ITALIAN JUMPER (5) for a top trainer-jockey team, the middle leg is three deep.

Use: Starzilla, Italian Jumper and Crucero (1, 5, 8)

Race 6

California-bred older maidens sprint down the hill in what looks like a wide-open race. This ticket will use four, including the also-eligible.

KISS MY FACE (2) has posted a series of sharp works for his debut; GOUYEN (4) runs well fresh and will be forwardly placed, MAD MELINDA (11) will roll late, and also-eligible ONEDEWOMAN (12) has finished close enough against better.

Use: Kiss My Face, Gouyen, Mad Melinda and Onedewoman (2, 4, 11, 12)

The ticket ($24 total):

Race 4: Nos. 5, 8

Race 5: Nos. 1, 5, 8

Race 6: No. 2, 4, 11, 12