Moving a champion racehorse from the dirt to the turf is rarely tried and rarely successful. Even 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin couldn’t pull off the feat, finishing 2nd to Red Rocks in the Grade 1, $500,000 Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park.

He didn’t run badly but did not have the normal kick he has on the dirt. The connections of Curlin were hoping the horse would take to the turf so they could run him in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October. That now seems unlikely.

Curlin is the best horse in the world on the dirt but he is not the best horse on the turf. He has won five straight on the dirt including four Grade 1 races. Where Curlin goes from here is the big question. "That was a good test for where he is at this point," majority owner Jess Jackson said.

"It makes our decision harder because he didn't win. He didn't seem to have that kick that he usually has. But he was still Curlin, and he's still a champion. Now we have to weigh whether we go turf or not. He is one notch below where I expected him to be right now."

The question now becomes what is next for Curlin.

"We'll talk it over and see how he comes out of it," Jackson said. "It will probably be a week or so before we see how he rebounds. I think he needs another turf test to test whether he's good. That's my feeling, but we'll see what Steve (Asmussen) says. If we don't go turf, we know what he can do on the dirt. He didn't embarrass me or himself."

The Man o’ War had speedballs Mission Approved and Sudan leading the way with Red Rocks third and Curlin fourth. On the final turn, Red Rocks got the lead first and Curlin could not reel him in. Red Rocks ended up winning by two lengths.

"He hasn't been given the kudos he deserves since he won the Breeders' Cup," trainer Brian Meehan said. "Today, he confirmed he is one of the best middle distance horses in the world - and he has been for the last two or three years."