Columnist Ralph Siraco: Rock Hard Ten delivers for Mandella in Strub

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Feb. 7, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

While the first Kentucky Derby pari-mutuel future book offerings head up this week's racing action, the older division, known as the handicap runners, took to the track over the weekend. Some old familiar faces -- both human and equine -- made action on the track as good as that on the gridiron in the race and sports books.

The Strub Stakes at Santa Anita featured the newly turned 4-year-olds capping an exclusive three-race series before heading into open competition with their elders.

The first in the Strub series, run on opening day at Santa Anita, was the Malibu Stakes, won by Rock Hard Ten. You may remember him as one of those horses that didn't make the earnings cut for last year's Kentucky Derby, won by Smarty Jones, but who finished 11 lengths back as runner-up to Smarty in the Preakness Stakes. Now trained by Richard Mandella, Rock Hard Ten skipped the second leg of the series in preparation for Saturday's finale.

Trainer Richard Mandella instead sent out Minster Eric -- also left out of the Derby -- to win the San Fernando Stakes, but kept him out of the Strub. Rock Hard Ten won the Strub on Saturday by a whisker over Imperialism to give his trainer a sweep of the Strub series. Imperialism, you may remember, finished third in last year's Derby to Smarty Jones. In fact, it was Imperialism who prevented Rock Hard Ten from earning enough graded money to make the Derby at all. Rock Hard Ten was disqualified from second when he impeded Imperialism in last year's Santa Anita Derby. While Imperialism was moved to second, behind winner Castledale, he denied Rock Hard Ten from the needed earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field.

Meanwhile, Castledale, who finished 14th in the Derby, has now finished fifth in both the San Fernando and Strub behind both horses he beat in the Santa Anita Derby. So much for the 4-year-olds.

Also on Saturday, at Gulfstream Park, the Donn Handicap highlighted the older division.

The first Grade I race of the year for the handicap horses was billed as a showdown between Roses In May, who finished a well-beaten runner-up to Ghostzapper in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and Saint Liam, who pushed Ghostzapper to close victory in the Woodward last fall.

The Donn quickly turned into a match race between the two, with Saint Liam prevailing by daylight. So, while newly crowned Horse of the Year Ghostzapper prepares for his 2005 debut, Saint Liam goes to the top of the contenders class. While Sunday's San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita did not bring out the cream of the handicap division crop, it should be noted that Ghostzapper trainer Bobby Frankel was victorious with Lundy's Liability.

Now, on to the human stars. The Southern California jockey colony has gone through many changes over the past six months.

They range from the time Patrick Valenzuela was suspended last July, to a Del Mar spill that sidelined Alex Solis for five months, to a 30-day benching of Corey Nakatani, who finally served days he incurred during last year's Santa Anita meeting.

Valenzuela was the first to return to action, early in January. He is currently tied for sixth, with Mike Smith and Martin Pedroza, in the Santa Anita jockey standing at 13 wins.

Jockey Gary Stevens, who isn't busy on the silver screen as he was last year making the movie "Seabisuit," is also plying his craft on a steady basis at Santa Anita this year and is the regular rider of Rock Hard Ten.

Nakatani is back and won Friday's seventh race on Country Jazz. Although Solis just missed aboard Imperialism on Saturday, he got his first win since returning to the saddle in Sunday's second race aboard Indian Flare.

Jockey Rene Douglas returned to the Southern California riding colony after dominating the Chicago circuit and has established himself with the recent Hollywood Park fall riding title. He currently leads the Santa Anita standings with 33 wins.

However, many of the other jockeys who came to Southern California from other circuits while Valenzuela, Nakatani, Solis and Stevens were away may migrate back to their roots soon.

Finally, it is time for the first Kentucky Derby pari-mutuel future book pools.

From Thursday through Sunday the opportunity to find that Smarty Jones-like sleeper in the future book offered by Churchill Downs will be available at most Nevada race books.

Eclipse Award winner Declan's Moon heads the list that will not include the "steamer" future book horse Fusaichi Samurai. The son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus was injured in training and will miss the May classic.

Weekend winners Proud Accolade and Bandini should attract futures support. For now.