Multiple Grade 1 Winner, Sire Rock Hard Ten Dies at 20
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Photo: Tony Leonard
Multiple grade 1 winner Rock Hard Ten , who had been standing at Jeju Stud Farm in South Korea since 2013, died Nov. 12, according to Korea Racing Authority records.
The 20-year-old son of Kris S. out of Tersa (Mr. Prospector) was a Madeleine Paulson homebred whom she later raced with Mercedes Stables. He started racing at 3 and by his third third start was grade 1-placed in the 2004 Santa Anita Derby for trainer Jason Orman. Runner-up in the Preakness Stakes (G1), he followed with wins in the Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2) and Malibu Stakes (G1). He won the Malibu while trained by Richard Mandella. He was undefeated at 4 in three starts—the Strub Stakes (G2), Santa Anita Handicap (G1), and Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2). He retired with $1,870,380 in earnings.
Rock Hard Ten stood for nine seasons at Lane's End. He sired 25 black-type stakes winners, including North American graded stakes winners Black Onyx (G3), Capital Plan (G2), Doubles Partner (G2), Krypton (G3), Lady Ten (G3), Nereid (G1), Quality Rocks (G3), Summersault (G3), The Mailet (G3), Tonito M. (G3), and Utopian (G3). All but Black Onyx and Tonito M. won on turf.
Rock Hard Ten sired 330 winners and his progeny have amassed more than $27 million in earnings. He started out strong with Korean breeders, breeding 94 mares his first year at stud there. By 2021, his book fell to 10 mares.