Favored Dullahan’s
distaste for the less-than-firm going in Saturday’s Jamaica Handicap
proved to be his undoing as he came home fifth in his attempt to add a Grade 1
on the turf to his trio of Grade 1 victories over synthetic surfaces, said
trainer Dale Romans this morning.
“He has proven to be quite finicky in that regard,” said
Romans of the Donegal Racing color-bearer. “If he doesn’t get firm
ground, whether it’s synthetic, dirt or grass, he just doesn’t
run.”
With a better-than-average chance of getting firm turf and/or a fast
track at Santa Anita next month, Romans said Dullahan will head back to
Kentucky before going on to compete in one of three Breeders’ Cup events:
the Classic at 1 ¼ miles on dirt, the Mile, or the 1 ½-mile Turf.
“We’ll take him to California
and Jerry Crawford and I will figure out what to do,” said Romans.
“The track is key thing. We’ll leave everything open.”
Dullahan, a 3-year-old son of Even the Score, is 3-2-3 from 13 career
starts with earnings of $1,714,091.