A cloudy Kentucky Derby picture could come into focus this weekend with the running of the Santa Anita and Illinois derbys.
Until then, those who long for long-shot stories like those that ended with Charismatic and Funny Cide wearing roses on the first Saturday in May have found a new champion: an imposing black colt named Rock Hard Ten.
But his destiny may not be the Kentucky Derby after all.
The son of Kris S. hardly has the resume of top Derby contenders such as Read the Footnotes or Imperialism, but he has an athletic look and imposing attitude that is rousing great attention in California.
Rock Hard Ten won his two starts this year, most recently by 13/4 lengths in a 1-mile allowance race March 3 at Santa Anita, and sees his first real competition Saturday in the Santa Anita Derby.
But according to trainer Jason Orman, there really is no immediate pressure on the colt anyway.
"We're not aiming this horse for the Kentucky Derby," he told the Associated Press.
Maybe not now.
As for Saturday, jockey David Flores will make his first start atop the colt owned by Mercedes Stables and Madeline Paulson, as regular jockey Gary Stevens has a long-standing stakes commitment in France. Flores could see more time aboard Rock Hard Ten as Stevens has more commitments overseas this spring.
Whether he continues along the Derby trail or not, Rock Hard Ten will be tested or dismissed Saturday by a talented seven-colt field, including Grade II winners Imperialism, St Averil and Wimbledon.
GRADEPOINT OUT: Gradepoint, winner of three of five starts, including the Risen Star Stakes, will miss at least eight months after being diagnosed with a serious knee injury. The A.P. Indy colt has a slab fracture in his right knee.
LATE FOOT: Tampa Bay Derby runnerup Mustanfar and Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Kaufy Mate were among 15 3-year-olds made eligible for the Triple Crown series before the late nomination period ended on Saturday.
Nominations for the Grade I Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont cost $6,000 during the late period, as opposed to $600 early in the spring, but owners often chose to weigh the higher price against their colts' later performance. A total of 449 colts are eligible for the Triple Crown series, six fewer than last season.
FAIR GAME: Tampa attorney John Bianco is representing a group of part-time area residents that is attempting to buy the financially troubled Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans.
Bianco's group, which includes former Conseco CEO Stephen Hilbert, would buy the track's $90-million debt owed to Louisiana horsemen for purse shortfalls tied to video poker revenue. Bianco would not comment on the proposal, but at least 10 groups have expressed interest in the track.
BIG DAY AT DOWNS: Tampa Bay Downs' Florida Cup Day on Sunday has drawn 76 entries for six stakes races worth an estimated $500,000. Florida-breds will be preferred for the stakes, which include three for 3-year-olds and three for older horses at a variety of distances on dirt and turf. They will be among 12 races involving 140 horses. Prominent stakes entries include five-time stakes winner Sir Oscar; Improvised, the nation's winningest horse in 2004; graded stakes winner Orchard Park; and Tampa Bay Downs stalwarts Guardianofthegate and Chef's Choice. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the first post is 12:25.
BITS: Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby winner, worked a half-mile in 47 seconds, 40 one-hundredths in preparation for a start in the Grade III Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct on Saturday.
- Information from Times wires was used in this report.
