OAK TREE A PRIMER FOR BREEDERS' CUP ROCK HARD TEN AMONG TOP HORSES THIS WEEKEND.

Byline: Art Wilson Staff Writer

At least one 2005 Breeders' Cup winner figures to emerge from the Oak Tree Racing Association's 37th season, which begins today with a nine-race program at Santa Anita.

First post is 1 p.m.

Last year, it was turf specialist Singletary and the brilliant filly Sweet Catomine that used Oak Tree victories as springboards to Breeders' Cup success later in the month.

Overall, one or more Breeders' Cup winners have prepped at Oak Tree for six consecutive years and nine of the past 10. The meet produced five champions - Adoration, Halfbridled, Action This Day, Johar and Pleasantly Perfect - in 2003 when Santa Anita hosted the Breeders' Cup.

This year's top hopefuls include Rock Hard Ten, Megahertz and Wild Fit. Rock Hard Ten and Megahertz will race Saturday in the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap and Yellow Ribbon Stakes, respectively. Wild Fit, unbeaten in two starts and winner of the Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 27, is considered a possibility for Saturday's Oak Leaf Stakes.

Rock Hard Ten has not raced because of assorted ailments since winning the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 5. One of the horses he beat that day, Saint Liam, is considered the heavy prerace favorite for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 29 at Belmont Park after his powerful victory in the Woodward Handicap.

Rock Hard Ten's trainer, Richard Mandella, is not fazed.

``I like my horse,'' he said. ``That's all I can worry about.''

Mandella won the Goodwood in 2002 and '03 with Pleasantly Perfect, who scored a 14-1 upset win in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Rock Hard Ten, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Kris S., has won 6 of 10 lifetime starts. He has won five of six races at Santa Anita, including this year's Strub Stakes and Big `Cap.

``Everything's good,'' Mandella said. ``He's as good as we're going to get. The biggest part is over. He couldn't be better. He's come along great, but he'll have to run good on Oct. 1, and I expect him to.''

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