Free: How I'd play Santa Anita on Sunday, Sept. 28

ARCADIA, Calif. – Due to small fields and modest quality for much of the Sunday card at Santa Anita, this handicapper will postpone action until about 4 p.m.

That is when the first opportunity arrives in the Grade 2 John Henry Championship, race 7. As for value, how does 5-1 grab you?

A half-hour later, in race 8, is another chance to find value. It comes in the form of a 2-year-old maiden filly making the second start of her career. Does 6-1 sound OK?

Those two races are the extent of the apparent Sunday value. No swinging for home runs, merely a straight win bet on two middle-price contenders and a daily double linking the two.

Race 7

Phil D’Amato trains Big John B, favored to win the John Henry at 1 1/4 miles on turf. The gelding’s rise to prominence includes a blowout Grade 2 last out. If he runs two alike (he is training like he will), Big John B will be tough to beat.

D’Amato also entered Bright Thought, who joined the stable right before the Del Mar Handicap. In the short time with D’Amato, Bright Thought was not “into” the D’Amato program.

That has changed. Bright Thought now has been trained by D’Amato for more than a month. The 5-year-old has improved. His workouts are sharp. He is feeling good.

He also has “back class.” Bright Thought won the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita in spring 2013.

Bright Thought should run the best race of his career Sunday. The gamble is it will be good enough to spring the upset.

At 4-1 or higher, a win bet on Bright Thought is in order.

Race 8

Second-start maidens can be among the best bets in racing. When the maiden shows as much run as Moons Over Me in her debut, improvement is not only likely, but it virtually is guaranteed.

Moons Over Me broke well in her debut. But she was not asked for speed. That was the first indication she was not “well meant.” She dropped back.

She stayed wide. She made a run into the lane, loomed a threat, and flattened out.

Jim Cassidy-trained maidens rarely fire their best shot first out. They do better with racing.

Moons Over Me posted a sharp five-furlong workout here Sept. 16, followed by a slow half-mile early this week.

With a race under her belt, expectations are that Moons Over Me will improve a ton. She might improve enough to win.

At 4-1 or higher, a win bet on Moons Over Me is in order, unless a daily double from race 7 play Bright Thought is “live.”

If that is the case, then a second-start win by Moons Over Me would be pure gravy.