Mercedes Stables LLC and Madeleine Paulson's Kentucky Derby (gr. I ) hopeful Rock Hard Ten worked five furlongs Tuesday at Churchill Downs in the colt's first serious training move at the track since his arrival from his Southern California base last Friday.
Trainer Jason Orman looked on as the son of Kris S. breezed five furlongs over the "sloppy" going in 1:01.80.
Former jockey Corey Black was in the irons for the work, which was the second fastest of seven at the distance.
"The work was good," Orman said in a release from the track. "To be honest, I didn't see to much of it but it looked like he handled the track good and he came it out of it real good."
Rock Hard Ten has won two of three career starts but was disqualified from second to third place in his most recent start in the April 3 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). That was his first graded stakes appearance and he earned $90,000 for the effort, which is good for a rank of 31st on Churchill Downs' official graded earnings list for Kentucky Derby contenders.
The Derby field is limited to 20 starters with preference given to horses with the highest total earnings in graded stakes.
"We're going to wait and hopefully we'll get in," Orman said. "I guess it's 50-50 right now but we'll just what happens."
Orman said that Rock Hard Ten would work three more times before the May 1 Kentucky Derby.
