Mercedes Stable LLC and Madeleine Paulson’s ROCK HARD TEN (Kris S.) held on
by a nose to win the $300,000
Strub S. (G2) at Santa Anita
on Saturday. The four-year-old sat toward the rear in the early parts of the 1
1/8-mile event, while Love of Money (Not for Love) led the group through splits
of :22 1/5, :45 and 1:09 3/5.
Rock Hard Ten began his run to the front when jockey Gary Stevens split
rivals leaving the backstretch and moved up three deep on the second turn. The
massive dark bay barely withstood the rally of Imperialism (Langfuhr), who came wide into the stretch
and closed strongly under Alex Solis, who made his return to the races Saturday from an
injury suffered in July at Del Mar. Rock Hard Ten stopped the teletimer in 1:49 1/5
over the fast track.
Trained by Richard Mandella, Rock Hard Ten left the gate as the 4-5 favorite and returned $3.60, $2.80 and
$2.20 to his backers, leading $1 exotics of $10 (exacta), $31.20 (trifecta) and
$95.60 for the 7-8-5-3 superfecta. Imperialism went off at 7-1 and gave back $4.40 and $3 while Love of Money held on for third,
another 3 1/2 lengths back, as the 3-1
second favorite and paid $2.80.
Good Reward (Storm Cat), Castledale (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), My Creed (Beau
Genius), With Distinction (Storm Cat), Hendrix (Sultry Song) and Diamond Fury
(Sea of Secrets) rounded out the order of finish. Skipaslew (Skip Away) was
scratched from the race.
The victory gives Rock Hard Ten his third graded win. He captured the
seven-furlong Malibu S. (G1) in his previous start and took the Swaps Breeders’
Cup S. (G2) last summer. His record now stands at
9-5-1-1 and is just a few dollars shy of $1 million with earnings of $970,380.
Rock Hard Ten was bred in Kentucky by Madeleine Paulson and is out of the
Group 1 winning mare Tersa (Mr. Prospector). He is a half-brother to the
juvenile colt William T and an unnamed yearling colt, who are both by Theatrical
(Ire).