Tersa, a French champion and dam of grade I winner Rock Hard Ten, was euthanzied Nov. 27 of complications from old age at Gerald Ford's Diamond A Farms near Versailles, Ky. The 26-year-old Mr. Prospector mare was owned by Ernie Moody.
Bred in Kentucky by Wichita Equine, Tersa was foaled four years after half brother Gato Del Sol won the 1982 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). She sold for $400,000 to Allen Paulson at the 1987 Keeneland July yearling sale from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
Trained by French conditioner Francois Boutin, Tersa was a European and French champion 2-year-old filly in 1988. She took on males in that year's Prix Morny (Fr-I) and the Prix du Bois (Fr-III) and won both races. Tersa also raced in Ireland and North America. In her final start, she finished 12th in the Very Subtle Stakes at Gulfstream Park. She was retired with a record of 3-0-1 from 14 starts and earnings of $151,850.
Rock Hard Ten, by Kris S., was bred by Paulson's wife, Madeleine (now Madeleine Pickens). Racing for his breeder and Moody's Mercedes Stables, Rock Hard Ten experienced his best season at 4 in 2005. After closing out his 3-year-old season with a victory in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I), Rock Hard Ten captured the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), and the Strub Stakes (gr. II) in his last three starts. Earlier in his career, Rock Hard Ten won the Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) and finished second to Smarty Jones in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Rock Hard Ten stood at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky before being sent to stand at KRA Jeju Stud Farm in Korea.
Through her daughters, Tersa is the granddam of Australian group I winner All American, Australian group II winner More Strawberries, and Puerto Rican champion Mi Amigo Guelo.
Tersa, who was out of the stakes-winning Jacinto mare Peacefully, produced eight winners from 12 foals.