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, trainer Dale Romans said Sunday morning.
"He has proven to be quite finicky in that regard," Romans said of the Donegal Racing colorbearer. "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 that Dullahan will head back to Kentucky before going on to compete in one of three Breeders' Cup events: the Classic at 1 1/4 miles on dirt, the Mile, or the 1 1/2-mile Turf.
"We'll take him to California and Jerry Crawford and I will figure out what to do," Romans said. "The track is the key thing. We'll leave everything open."
Dullahan, a three-year-old son of Even the Score, has compiled a 13-3-2-3 record with earnings of $1,714,091.
In other Belmont news, Grade 1 Frizette winner Dreaming of Julia and Grade 1 Champagne hero Shanghai Bobby emerged from their Saturday efforts in fine fettle, Todd Pletcher assistant Whit Beckman reported Sunday morning.
"Both two-year-old stakes winners seemed to exit their races in good shape," Beckman said of Dreaming of Julia, who headed My Happy Face in the Frizette, and Shangahi Bobby, now four-for-four after his five-length Champagne triumph. "They both looked good this morning."
Beckman said that while plans call for Dreaming of Julia to head to California for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita next month, no decision has been made on Shanghai Bobby's next start.
"Plans for Shanghai Bobby will be under further review by Todd and Mr. Jack Wolf (of Starlight Racing)," Beckman said.