Hammersly: How I'd play Santa Anita for Sunday, Oct. 12

LIGHT THE CITY, in Sunday’s third race, could be the key horse. It’s not that she can just be a linchpin in your various multi-race wagers involving her race, but it’s also about her impact later on the card.

Her appeal in race 3 is obvious. This daughter of 2-year-old champion, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Grade 1 Travers and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile hero Street Sense went right out to the lead in her only start at Del Mar on Aug. 24, took pressure but kicked clear into the lane and had no trouble keeping her rivals at bay. She has worked wonderfully here of late (bullet six furlongs in 1:11 on Oct. 2).

Should she run well that would definitely bolster the stock of ONE GUN, who faces maidens going seven furlongs in race 7.

ONE GUN, trained by Simon Callaghan, cost $450,000. She’s a daughter of Malibu Moon, sire of 2013 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Orb. In her Aug. 24 debut at Del Mar, under Rafael Bejarano, One Gun was slow into stride but kept to her task decently, finishing fourth to Light the City. She comes back here with blinkers added, with Rafael Bejarano staying and with two very strong recent works on her docket.

Should Light the City perform well in race 3 that makes One Gun an attractive proposition as your key for the various multi-race wagers involving her race. It also makes her attractive in the exotics in that race, along with the promising Jerry Hollendorfer first MISS CENTERFOLD (daughter of Horse of the Year Tiznow, cost $400K) and the Bob Baffert filly SO YOU SAY (third in all three starts; has worked strongly three times since her last outing).

Others with appeal on the card in the races surrounding those two include IT IS LIVING WATER in race 4 (blasted maidens at Del Mar on Aug. 28 after being claimed by Peter Miller; moves to turf which he has handled well); SEE THROUGH down the hill in race 6 (has been knocking on the door; proven on the hill); PLAY HARD TO GET in race 8 (looked like a new horse the way he romped over maidens on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 23; should be a price as he faces winners for the first time off some strong recent works, including a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 at Los Alamitos on Sept. 27); and ICE CREAM TRUCK also in race 8 (blossomed this spring enough to warrant a shot at the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, though those waters proved far too deep; he drops a bunch and moves back to turf he has handled well).