Free: How I'll play Santa Anita for Sunday, Oct. 1

ARCADIA, Calif. – Two middle-odds contenders early, and two longshot gambles later, are the overlay focus Sunday at Santa Anita. All four are generous odds, beginning with the first race.

Race 1
It will be a welcome surprise if PISTOL PACKIN ROSE starts as high as her 9-2 morning line. Considering how well she ran last out, third despite a brutal trip, she offers value at 3-1 or higher in this N1X turf route for 3-year-old fillies.

Pistol Packin Rose was best last out. Facing older allowance fillies and mares, she was banged around early, got rank, and was wide the entire trip. All that, and she missed by only a neck. She moves from post 10 to post 2, switches riders to Drayden Van Dyke, and is worth a straight bet at 3-1 or higher.

Race 4
This first-level turf allowance for 3-year-old fillies is a split of race 1. This appears to be the stronger division, and it includes a top choice at odds that are likely to drop.

TWEETING scored an impressive win two months ago in a $62,500 maiden-claiming turf race at Del Mar, setting strong fractions en route to a front-running victory. The switch to grass contributed to the Uncle Mo filly producing the best effort of her career.

Tweeting was claimed by Bill Spawr, who employs jockey Mike Smith for her return. Spawr and Smith are 5 for 7 first-off-the-claim the past three-plus years. Tweeting faces a deep field, and must ration her speed in a field with other speed. But the improving filly appears to be another terrific claim by Spawr, and at 4-1 or higher she is a terrific wager.

Race 7
ITSINTHEPOST would have won a Grade 2 last out except for bad luck (off slow, steadied and shuffled far turn). He is favored in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship, facing the horse that beat him last out.

HUNT won back-to-back Grade 2’s this year for trainer Phil D’Amato, who described the gelding’s transition from minor stakes winner last season to top distance turf horse in California this season.

“Last year, WE thought he was a good horse,” D’Amato said. “This year, HE thinks he is a good horse.”

Itsinthepost at 2-1 and Hunt at 5-2 are logical contenders. But the race includes a potential bomber.

UP WITH THE BIRDS, also trained by D’Amato, is 10-1, coming off a troubled seventh behind Hunt and Itsinthepost.

“He’s a hard horse to figure out when to make your move,” D’Amato said. “He was a little unlucky the other day. He was late to find room, and he came flying late. Who knows, (jockey Jamie Theriot) might have to cut him loose a little earlier.”

Up With the Birds lost by only 2 1/4 lengths last out. At double-digit odds, Up With the Birds is worth a win bet, and exactas under Itsinthepost and Hunt.

Race 8
Front-runners ANONYMITY and DOMINATING WOMAN are favored in this first-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares. Both are fast, both earned 90-plus Beyer Figures in maiden wins, and they could easily run one-two.

That is, unless they get in each other’s way. If so, the race could unfold in favor of JUST A LITTLE HOPE, an 8-1 comebacker shortening from a route to a sprint. Her career-best victory was a last-to-to-first maiden sprint on this track in May.

First start back at a big price, Just a Little Hope has a longshot shot to upset the chalk.

Two middle-odds contenders early (Pistol Packin Rose in race 1, and Tweeting in race 4; and two longshot gambles later (Up With the Birds in race 7, and Just a Little Hope in races 8).

Generous prices for an afternoon of wagering at Santa Anita.