Leading Breeders’ Cup Classic contender Rock Hard Ten has recovered from a slight setback and is due to head for Belmont Park on Wednesday.
A minor bruise to his left front foot prevented him from leaving Santa Anita Park as scheduled on Sunday.
“He’s fine,” trainer Richard Mandella told www.thoroughbredtimes.com yesterday. “He galloped today and yesterday. His shoes are off and we’re going to put them on tomorrow.”
The bruise was discovered after Rock Hard Ten worked seven furlongs Thursday.
“We’ve pulled the shoes off, he’s galloped, we put bandages on it and it looks fine,” Mandella said. “We’re going to shoe it and it looks like what we’ve done worked, so we’ll go to New York thinking we’re in good shape.”
Rock Hard Ten is a general 7-2 second favourite for the Classic behind 9-4 shot Saint Liam.