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Pedigree - some trainers waste time on dirt chasing the Triple Crown but ultimately have the turf in mind from the get-go (Hawkster, Lure, Strolling Along, Tight Spot, Startac, Bien Bien, Mr. Commons, Bolo, With Approval, Prized)
Seasonality - turf racing historically picks up in summer and the horses that don't make the cut for the Triple Crown often switch surfaces; (Da Hoss, Showing Up, Nobiz Like Showbiz, Cigar)
in the winter in CA the Strub and Big Cap series often was a time when the Euro imports from the Del Mar + Hollywood Derbies would take shot on the dirt (In Excess, Dare and Go, Opening Verse, Helmsman, Defensive Play, Mizzen Mast, Nasr El Arab)
Experiment - some Euro imports are imported to try the dirt or simply take to American racing and training and do well enough in the mornings to take a stab at the main track (Blushing John, Mineshaft, Jade Hunter, Criminal Type, Quiet American Greinton, Go and Go, Jovial, Urgent Request, Martial Law, Perrault)
Versatility - some top horses can handle both and don't make the necessarily switch because they are off form (Secretariat, Olympio, Majestic Light, Big Brown, Exceller, John Henry)
Speaking of Euro imports, Brad Cox is getting a horse from Europe called Darain, a full brother to 3 Group 1-caliber horses. Was trained by John Gosden but tailed off after winning his first two starts. Gosden thinks he'll handle American racing and mentioned he might handle the dirt, too.
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