Free: How I'll play Santa Anita on Sunday, Jan. 8

ARCADIA, Calif. – Whom do you like – Unique Bella or Shane’s Girlfriend? What do you like more, 8-5 or 9-5?

It’s a trick question. Everyone knows how difficult it is to generate consistent profits by backing low-odds favorites, although the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes on Sunday shapes up as one of the most interesting stakes of the Santa Anita winter meet. Either favorite, Unique Bella or Shane’s Girlfriend, could win the seven-furlong Santa Ynez, for 3-year-old fillies.

Unique Bella, a maiden winner, has a reputation. From the time she entered training last summer until now, she was billed as a star. She works fast, outworks company, looks good doing it, and has a super pedigree. Sired by Tapit and produced by Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Unrivaled Belle, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Unique Bella gets tested for class in the Santa Ynez. The chances are good that she is up to the challenge.

Shane’s Girlfriend, a Grade 3 winner, won the Delta Princess Stakes by more than 13 lengths. She earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest of 2016 by a 2-year-old filly on a fast track.

Doug O’Neill trains Shane’s Girlfriend, whose outside draw, established class, and high figure give her every right to make it 3-for-3. So, a pair of worthy favorites will battle in an interesting renewal of the Santa Ynez. If any of the other seven entrants wins, it will be an upset.

As for wagering on the Santa Ynez, that also could be interesting. Resilient Humor is 30-1, which seems right considering her winning debut last month at Los Alamitos earned a 73 Beyer. It was not a strong race. However, Resilient Humor ran a lot better than the figure suggests.

She was bumped slightly at the break and recovered to be forwardly placed. On the turn, she steadied and was shuffled between rivals. She rerallied, split foes in the lane, surged late, and won the 5 1/2-furlong race going away. She galloped out super past the wire. Resilient Humor ran super; the figure does not do her justice.

Kent Desormeaux takes over for Chantal Sutherland on Resilient Humor, who stretches out to seven furlongs and could be overlooked in the betting. Resilient Humor might not be good enough to win. But surely she can hit the board. So, the play is in the verticals, insisting that the race be won by Unique Bella or Shane’s Girlfriend and that Resilient Humor finish in the money.

$1 trifecta ($2 total)
(3, 8 with 3, 8 with 1)
Unique Bella, Shane’s Girlfriend
with
Unique Bella, Shane’s Girlfriend
with
Resilient Humor

$1 trifecta ($8 total)
(3, 8 with 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 with 1)
Unique Bella, Shane’s Girlfriend
with
Unique Bella, Princess Karen, Noted and Quoted, Shane’s Girlfriend, It Tiz Well
with
Resilient Humor

$4 exacta ($8 total)
(3, 8 with 1)
Unique Bella and Shane’s Girlfriend
with
Resilient Humor

Lastly, a “suicide insurance” play – a $2 win bet in the unlikely event that Resilient Humor outruns all expectations.

It’s a $20 investment – $10 in trifecta wagers with a chance to cash twice, $8 in exactas with a chance to cash four times, and $2 win. So, whom do you like – Unique Bella or Shane’s Girlfriend? How about both, so long as Resilient Humor picks up the pieces and hits the board?