Rock Hard Ten
Encyclopedia
Rock Hard Ten is a millionaire American
thoroughbred
Stallion
racehorse
. Co-owned and bred by Madeleine Paulson
, widow of prominent horseman Allen E. Paulson
, the bay horse stands at 17 hands
. He was sired by the great Kris S.
, out of the Mr. Prospector
mare, Tersa.
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 just bided their time and watched the Derby and waited two weeks later until the "Run for the Black-eyed Susans." In that race he was facing ten colts including the top four finishers from the Derby and 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 every one else to the outside even further out. Rock Hard Ten was effected most, being pushed out to the six path on the turn and losing ground fading to seventh. Stevens wrestled with Rock Hard Ten fighting to hold him back and conserve ground. Then on the second turn he and Eddington made a charge at the leaders. The two moved up to challenge the Derby runner-up Lion Heart at the top of the lane together. Rock Hard Ten then passed in front Lion Heart for the place spot earning $200,000 as the Preakness runner-up. By that time 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.
Later that year the late bloomer kicked it in gear winning 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
.
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.
at Lane's End Farm
in Versailles, Kentucky
for $30,000 live foal.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
Stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Co-owned and bred by Madeleine Paulson
Madeleine A. Pickens
Madeleine A. Pickens is an American businesswoman who owns in Rancho Santa Fe, California .She is also a Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder and an animal welfare activist and philanthropist who has earned a black belt in the martial art of Taekwondo.Born Madeleine Baker of an English father...
, widow of prominent horseman Allen E. Paulson
Allen E. Paulson
Allen Eugene Paulson was an American aviation entrepreneur, philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse breeder and owner, and a self-made multi-millionaire.-Business career in aviation:Born in Clinton, Iowa, Allen E...
, the bay horse stands at 17 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
. He was sired by the great Kris S.
Kris S.
Kris S. was an American Thoroughbred race horse who is best known as a highly successful sire. He was a son of the 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto who was a sire of international influence descending from the Hail to Reason branch of the Nearco sire line...
, out of the Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
mare, Tersa.
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 in February or earlier. Rock Hard Ten stepped up in class in a big way four weeks before the Derby in the GI Santa Anita DerbySanta Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky 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
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
.
The owners of Rock Hard Ten just bided their time and watched the Derby and waited two weeks later until the "Run for the Black-eyed Susans." In that race he was facing ten colts including the top four finishers from the Derby and eventual champion and "Dual Classic Winner Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones is a thoroughbred race horse, and winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes that took place on June 5th, 2004....
. In the grade one 2004 Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, 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
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
's famous club house turn jockey Mike Smith aboard Derby runner-up Lion Heart floated Smarty Jones out wide and in turn pushed every one else to the outside even further out. Rock Hard Ten was effected most, being pushed out to the six path on the turn and losing ground fading to seventh. Stevens wrestled with Rock Hard Ten fighting to hold him back and conserve ground. Then on the second turn he and Eddington made a charge at the leaders. The two moved up to challenge the Derby runner-up Lion Heart at the top of the lane together. Rock Hard Ten then passed in front Lion Heart for the place spot earning $200,000 as the Preakness runner-up. By that time 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.
Later that year the late bloomer kicked it in gear winning two stakes races. Rock Hard Ten won the GII Swaps Stakes
Swaps Stakes
The Swaps Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses run annually at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The race is open to three-year-old horses willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it carries a purse of $350,000.Run in mid July, this race is...
in July at Hollywood Park and the GI Malibu Stakes
Malibu Stakes
The Malibu Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender held each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
in December at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
.
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. 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 HandicapSanta Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
and then the grade two Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap
Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap
The Goodwood Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1982 during the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California....
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
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner Roberto
Roberto (horse)
Roberto was an American-bred Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who competed in Ireland and England.-Background:Roberto was bred by Galbreath at his Darby Dan Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. The son of the successful sire Hail To Reason out of the dam Bramalea, Roberto's grandsire was Turn-To, a...
won seven, placed once, and came in third once.
In Retirement
As of 2009, Rock Hard Ten currently stands at studHorse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at Lane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Versailles, Kentucky established in 1979. The original land was part of Bosque Bonita Farm which means beautiful woods and was originally owned by Abraham Buford, a Confederate Army General. The land was later bought by leading...
in Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
for $30,000 live foal.