Rock Hard Ten

Rock Hard Ten (foaled April 5, 2001, in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Co-owned and bred by Madeleine Paulson, widow of Allen E. Paulson, the dark bay horse stands over 17 hands. He was sired by Kris S., out of the Mr. Prospector mare Tersa.[2]

Rock Hard Ten
Rock Hard Ten at 2004 Belmont Stakes
SireKris S.
GrandsireRoberto
DamTersa
DamsireMr. Prospector
SexStallion
FoaledApril 5, 2001[1]
CountryUnited States
ColorDark Bay
BreederMadeleine A. Paulson
OwnerMercedes Stable
TrainerJason Orman
Richard Mandella
Record11: 7-1-1
EarningsUS$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)

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. Rock Hard Ten stepped up in class four weeks before the Kentucky 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 his disqualification, Rock Hard Ten did not have enough graded stakes race earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

The owners of Rock Hard Ten waited two weeks later until the Preakness Stakes. In that race, the colt faced the top four finishers from the Derby, including the eventual champion and dual classic winner, Smarty Jones. In the 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 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. Smarty Jones won the race by the widest margin in 130 years at 11-1/2 lengths.

Following the Preakness, Rock Hard Ten won the GII Swaps Stakes in July at Hollywood Park and the GI Malibu Stakes in December at Santa Anita Park. Rock Hard Ten Ran in the Belmont

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. 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. He finished his career with an in-the-money percentage of 82%. Out of eleven starts, he won seven, placed once, and came in third once.

Stud record

As of 2012, Rock Hard Ten stood at stud at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky for $20,000 live foal.[3] In November 2012, he was sold to the Korean Racehorse Association and currently stands at Jeju Stud Farm for a private fee.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Rock Hard Ten (USA), bay stallion, 2001[1]
Sire
Kris S. (USA)
1977
Roberto (USA)
1969
Hail To Reason Turn-To
Nothirdchance
Bramalea Nashua
Rarelea
Sharp Queen (USA)
1965 
Princequillo Prince Rose
Cosquilla
Bridgework Occupy
Feale Bridge
Dam
Tersa (USA)
1986
Mr Prospector (USA)
1970 
Raise A Native Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger Nashua
Sequence
Peacefully (USA)
1973
Jacinto Bold Ruler
Cascade
Morning Calm Hail To Reason
Yellow Mist (Family: A1)

References

  1. "Rock Hard Ten pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. "Rock Hard Ten statistics". equibase.com. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  3. "Rock Hard Ten, horse breeding, stallion directory". Thoroughbredtimes.com. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
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