LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 13, 2004) - Mercedes Stables LLC and Madeleine Paulson's Kentucky Derby (Grade I) hopeful Rock Hard Ten worked five furlongs on 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 in a steady rain before sunrise 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. "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 (GI). 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.

Frankel/Zito Derby Horses Arrive At Churchill - Toyota Blue Grass (GI) winner The Cliff's Edge and Champagne (GI) winner Birdstone, Kentucky Derby contenders trained by two-time Derby winner Nick Zito, arrived Tuesday afternoon at Churchill Downs after a brief van ride from Keeneland. A bit earlier on Tuesday, the Bobby Frankel-trained Master David, the runner-up in the Wood Memorial (GI) started to settle into his new surroundings as he arrived under the Twin Spires after a flight from New York.

Work Tab (Track - Sloppy) - Heiligbrodt Racing's Bwana Charlie, winner of the Lafayette (GIII) at Keeneland, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40.

The move was the second fastest of seven at the distance for the son of Indian Charlie, who could run next in the Derby Trial (GIII) at Churchill Downs on April 24...Saintly Look breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80, the fastest move of the day at the distance...Midway Road, runner-up in the 2003 Preakness (GI), breezed six furlongs in 1:15 for trainer Neil Howard.

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