Free: Santa Anita daily double play for Sunday

ARCADIA, Calif. – It is fun to attack a race card armed with an opinion not shared by other horseplayers.

That will not happen Sunday at Santa Anita.

The nine-race card looks predictable; most likely winners are among the favorites. It is a card on which “not losing” might be considered a win.

Who likes to wager like that? This handicapper prefers offense, rather than defense.

But if there are overlays Sunday at Santa Anita, they are hidden. On a card with limited opportunities, the suggested wager is a daily double in races 4-5. It is pure defense. Ugh.

Race 4

It Is Living Water (No. 2) is the “most probable” winner Sunday. She buried California-bred maidens in her last start; her springtime form on the downhill is terrific. She should get a great trip positioned right behind the speed.

The problem is price. It Is Living Water is the 2-1 favorite in this starter allowance on the hill. Her attributes are clear. She should win. Whoopee.

Race 5

Glorious Rebecca (No. 3) won her most recent start for an $8,000 claiming tag. Sunday, she runs for a $12,500 tag. And yet, she actually is dropping in class.

Glorious Rebecca defeated older fillies and mares last out. Sunday, she runs in a claiming race restricted to 3-year-olds. Yes, it is a drop. She is 7-2.

Eddies Curl (No. 6) also defeated older fillies and mares last out, a restricted claiming race at Los Alamitos. Her class move is parallel. She runs the same almost every start, and another mid-60s Beyer might be good enough. She is 3-1.

The program favorite is When I’m Calling You, whose challenge is obvious. She is a deep closer at a short price on a dirt surface that generally rewards speed. If she wins, the double will lose.

The bet

The wager is a simple daily double: It Is Living Water in race 4, to Glorious Rebecca and Eddies Curl in race 5.