Tersa, dam of Rock Hard Ten, euthanized at 26

Tersa, the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and millionaire Rock Hard Ten, died Nov. 27 at Diamond A Farms in Versailles, Ky.

According to published reports, the 26-year-old Mr. Prospector mare was euthanized due to complications of old age.

Tersa was named France’s champion 2-year-old filly of 1988 on the strength of victories in the Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 3 Prix du Bois. She also finished third in the Group 3 Prix Quincey in 1989. Overall, she won three of 14 career starts for earnings of $151,850.

The most accomplished of Tersa’s foals was Rock Hard Ten, who won the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in December 2004 before taking the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March 2005. The Kris S. horse, a three-time Grade 2 winner, also finished second to champion Smarty Jones in the 2004 Preakness Stakes. He retired with seven wins from 11 career starts for earnings of $1,870,380.

Rock Hard Ten entered stud at Lane’s End in Versailles, Ky. and in four crops of racing age has sired 10 graded stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Nereid and Grade 2 winners Doubles Partner and Capital Plan. He was recently sold to the Korean Racing Authority and will stand in Korea in 2013.

In all, Tersa produced eight winners from 11 foals to race.

Out of the stakes-winning Jacinto mare Peacefully, Tersa was a half-sister to 1982 Kentucky Derby winner Gato del Sol and graded/group stakes producer Echoes of Eternity.