Goodyearforroses, Responsibleforlove loom prominent in Rodeo Drive

A pair of Irish-breds, Goodyearforroses and Responsibleforlove, loom prominent among a competitive field of 10 fillies and mares three and up in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at a mile and a quarter over the Santa Anita turf.

Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden regularly by Corey Nakatani, 5-year-old Goodyearforroses has been a gem of consistency in five local starts since shipping to Santa Anita from Woodbine in Toronto nearly a year ago.

After an inauspicious American debut four starts back in the Grade II Santa Ana Stakes March 12, Responsibleforlove has been second twice and most recently won a minor turf stakes going 1 3/8 miles on grass Aug. 16 for trainer Neil Drysdale.

GOODYEARFORROSES: Well back early, she flew from off the pace to finish second, beaten three quarters of a length at 5-2 in the Grade II John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 2 and would appear to be the horse to beat as she stretches out a furlong here on Saturday.Owned by Abbondanza Racing and Medallion Racing, she’s got two wins and a second from three starts over the Santa Anita turf and is 18-7-2-2 overall with earnings of $476,495.

RESPONSIBLEFORLOVE: Owned by Team Valor International and Mrs. G.A. Rupert, this 4-year-old filly, who made her first six starts in Italy, served notice she could compete with top distaffers by running a solid second in the Grade III Santa Barbara Stakes at a mile and one half on turf three starts back here on April 30.Subsequently second over the course at a mile and a quarter two races back June 4, she then took her most recent start on Aug. 16.With two seconds from three tries over the Santa Anita lawn, she’s 10-4-3-1 overall with earnings of $134,879.

THE GRADE I RODEO DRIVE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

1.  Frenzified—Santiago Gonzalez—122

2.  Goldy Espony—Mike Smith—122

3.  Responsibleforlove—Joe Talamo—122

4.  Majestic Heat—Drayden Van Dyke—122

5.  Avenge—Flavien Prat—124

6.  Amboseli—Victor Espinoza—122

7.  Beau Recall—Rafael Bejarano—118

8.  Decked Out—Kent Desormeaux—124

9.  Kiss Me Now—Martin Garcia--124

10. Goodyearforroses—Corey Nakatani—122