Free: How I'd play Santa Anita on Sunday, March 8

ARCADIA, Calif. – One day after the Santa Anita Handicap, racing continues Sunday at Santa Anita with smaller fields and lower quality. Sunday is a good day to take it easy. There will be more attractive wagering opportunities another time. For the sake of action, below are a few “safe” ideas.

Race 3

The favorite, OLEANDERPOLARBEAR (4), earned a 48 Beyer Speed Figure last out, finishing second in a similar maiden-$30K sprint for fillies. She did it pressing a slow pace. She finished more than nine lengths clear of third, but so what? If she starts at 5-2, Oleanderpolarbear is a good one to wager against.

KATSFASHION (7) has speed and drops for her second start. Tough to trust a second-start maiden whose connections are giving up on her so soon, but the 7-2 shot is fast. First-time starter QUEENOFHERCASTLE (6) is a new face in a weak race. She is 8-1. I’ll be fooling around with Katsfashion and Queenofhercastle, trying to beat the chalk.

Race 5

PRESS BARON (8) is a favorite I will not try to beat. The gelding is 5-2 and looks like the most probable winner on the card. A runner-up last time in a starter allowance, he returns to the N1X/optional $40,000 claiming level at which he won two starts back.

There are three knocks on PRESS BARON. The first is pace. He is a closer at 1 1/8 miles on turf; the pace is likely to be soft. Secondly, he is winless on the Santa Anita turf, which is less significant. After all, he hit the board in six of eight here.

Finally, his odds are 5-2. That is short. Press Baron “should” win. But if his odds drop even a dime under 2.50-1, it’s a pass.

Race 6

Maiden 3-year-olds bred in California race six furlongs, and comebacker LONDON LEGACY (5) makes his first start since being gelded and joining the stable of trainer Gary Sherlock. He was fast last summer; expectations are he will be fast this spring.

As the second choice in the betting, London Legacy is worth tinkering with. His main rival is drawn to his inside. That is ROCKO’S WHEEL (4), a comebacker listed as the 5-2 favorite.

What is the bottom line? It’s not much of a card.