Kukulkan Confirmed for Pegasus World Cup
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Kukulkan wins the Clásico del Caribe at Gulfstream Park
Cuadra San Jorge's undefeated Kukulkan, the winner of Mexico's Triple Crown, has been confirmed to run in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.
Kukulkan aced his first start on U.S. soil Dec. 8 at Gulfstream with a 10 1/4-length romp in the Clásico del Caribe, was shipped back to Mexico the week after, and has been galloping at Hipódromo de las Américas in Mexico City.
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"We are shipping the horse (Jan. 17)," said trainer Fausto Gutierrez. "That's the date we have planned to fly him to the race. The horse is galloping here in Mexico, and we will breeze him twice before he leaves."
Gutierrez, who will send Kukulkan out against the likes of Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate , Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light , Classic runner-up Gunnevera, Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) winner Audible, Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Bravazo, and Cigar Mile Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Patternrecognition, knows the 1 1/8 mile Pegasus will be a tough assignment.
"I'm very happy, because I'm bringing (Kukulkan) to a very big race," he said. "I know competition is very, very strong, but we want to try and give the horse a chance."
Unbeaten in 14 starts, the Mexican-bred Point Determined colt raced exclusively at Hipódromo de las Américas until the Clásico at Gulfstream.