Rock Hard Ten
| Rock Hard Ten | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Kris S. |
| Grandsire | Roberto |
| Dam | Tersa |
| Damsire | Mr. Prospector |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 2001 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Dark Bay |
| Breeder | Madeleine A. Paulson |
| Owner | Mercedes Stable |
| Trainer | Jason Orman Richard Mandella (from 12/2004) |
| Record | 11: 7-1-1 |
| Earnings | US$1,870,380 |
| Major wins | |
| Swaps Stakes (2004) Malibu Stakes (2004) Charles H. Strub Stakes (2005) Santa Anita Handicap (2005) Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap(2005) American Classic Race placing: Preakness Stakes 2nd (2004) | |
Rock Hard Ten (foaled April 5, 2001 in Kentucky) is a millionaire American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Co-owned and bred by Madeleine Paulson, widow of prominent horseman Allen E. Paulson, the dark bay horse stands over 17 hands. He was sired by the great Kris S., out of the Mr. Prospector mare, Tersa.[1]
Three year-old season
Rock Hard Ten was a late bloomer and did not race at age two due to shin splints. At age three he started late in relation to other three year-olds that began the march toward the Triple Crown by February. Rock Hard Ten stepped up in class four weeks before the Derby in the GI Santa Anita Derby and finished second to Castledale, but was disqualified and placed third for interference. Due to the late start in the season and disqualification in the Santa Anita Derby, Rock Hard Ten did not have enough graded stakes race earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
The owners of Rock Hard Ten bided their time, watching the Derby and waiting two weeks later until the "Run for the Black-eyed Susans." In that race he faced the top four finishers from the Derby, including the eventual champion and "Dual Classic Winner Smarty Jones. In the grade one 2004 Preakness Stakes, Rock Hard Ten was fractious behind the gate and difficult to load. When the gates opened he broke alertly and jockey Gary Stevens placed him fourth in a field of ten runners. On Pimlico's famous club house turn jockey Mike Smith aboard Derby runner-up Lion Heart floated Smarty Jones out wide and in turn pushed the others horses even further outside. Rock Hard Ten was the most affected, pushed out to the six path on the turn and fading to seventh. Stevens wrestled with Rock Hard Ten fighting to hold him back and conserve ground. On the second turn he and Eddington made a charge at the leaders. The two moved up to challenge Lion Heart at the top of the lane. Rock Hard Ten then passed Lion Heart for the place spot, holding on to earn $200,000 as the Preakness runner-up. By that point Smarty Jones was five lengths in front and widening at every stride. Smarty Jones went on to win by the widest margin in 130 years at 11-1/2 lengths.
Following the Preakness, Rock Hard Ten went on to win two stakes races. Rock Hard Ten won the GII Swaps Stakes in July at Hollywood Park and the GI Malibu Stakes in December at Santa Anita Park.
Four year-old season
At age four Rock Hard Ten developed physically into one of the largest colts to hit the track in history standing 17.3 hands.[citation needed] In that season he won the grade two Charles H. Strub Stakes, then one of the biggest prizes for an older horse in the grade one Santa Anita Handicap and then the grade two Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap in succession. Rock Hard Ten finished his career with an in-the-money percentage of 82%. Out of eleven career starts, the grandson of Epsom Derby winner Roberto won seven, placed once, and came in third once.
In Retirement
As of 2012, Rock Hard Ten stands at stud at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky for $20,000 live foal.[2] In November 2012 he was sold to the Korean Racehorse Association and currently stands at Jeju Stud Farm for a private fee.
References
- ^ "Rock Hard Ten statistics". equibase.com. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
- ^ "Rock Hard Ten, horse breeding, stallion directory". Thoroughbredtimes.com. Retrieved 2013-02-05.