Resilient Humor points to Santa Ynez Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – Resilient Humor, a well-bred filly who won her debut in a maiden race at Los Alamitos on Thursday at 32-1, is a candidate for the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes on Jan. 8 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Jesse Mendoza said the Grade 2 Santa Ynez at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies is a goal for Resilient Humor, who closed from fifth to win a race at 5 1/2 furlongs Thursday.

Resilient Humor, by Distorted Humor, is out of the two-time Grade 1 winner Sassy Image and is her first foal to race. Owned by Chris Drakos, Resilient Humor was purchased for $105,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Mendoza acknowledged the purchase price was low for a filly with an excellent female family.

“She’s not the most correct filly,” he said. “She has a lot of heart. She had some issues, and we had to give her time earlier.”