Kukulkan's Connections Confident Despite Underdog Label

For the majority of the contenders in the Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park, the $9 million price tag aside, Saturday will be just another day. 

Seasoned professionals of their sport, 11 of this year's 12 contenders hail from the United States. They number among their accomplishments 25 graded stakes wins and cumulative earnings of $21,523,243.  

But for one horse and one trainer, a berth in the Pegasus represents more than money. It's a chance to prove that a little bit of class and a whole lot of determination can be enough to propel you to the top of the game. 

Representing Mexico is Kukulkan, a 4-year-old son of Point Determined and grandson of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given. Though he is largely untested on United States soil, Kukulkan will enter the Pegasus undefeated in 14 starts and the winner of the Mexican Triple Crown. 

Kukulkan's Caribbean Classic Stakes win inspired his connections to throw their hat in the ring for the Pegasus, a move that at once unnerves and excites his trainer, Fausto Gutierrez. Despite the colt's impressive record, none of his group 1 victories in Mexico qualified for black-type status—a common standard by which many horsemen assess a horse's ability to perform at the top level. 

"This is a horse who has a big challenge in front of him," Gutierrez said. "It's not the same thing for him to win in our country. The Carribean Classic—that was major leagues. But sometimes you have to give this chance to the horse. We are ready to have a very good race, and we know the level of the horse."

Kukulkan made his U.S. debut at Gulfstream Park Dec. 8, when he swept the Caribbean Classic by a commanding 10 1/4 lengths. After returning to Mexico for a brief respite, Kukulkan logged two timed works in Mexico—his most recent was a mile in 1:42—before shipping back to Gulfstream Jan. 19 to prep for the Pegasus. Gutierrez said the decision to move the colt back to Mexico for the month was as much a tactical decision as a practical one—a move he hopes will allow his horse a bit of an advantage over his competition. 

"This is an important point because, in Mexico, we are very high above sea level, so the horse learns to take in a lot of oxygen, and this helps," Gutierrez said. "It's very important. It's like when Olympic athletes go to high elevations before a competition and then come down before the competition. And the horse knows the track and he's run good and traveled good here. So this is also a small point in our favor. Maybe the other ones will need more acclimatization to the track."

Kukulkan is the third foal out of the winning Bernardini  mare The Real Mayo. His dam was purchased for $105,000 from Eaton Sales' consignment to the 2012 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on behalf of St. George Stables. Kukulkan is owned by German Larrea Mota Velasco, chief executive of Grupo Mexico and the country's second-richest citizen, according to Forbes magazine. 

The colt will have an expert jockey in Frankie Dettori, who arrived from Europe Jan. 24. Although this will be the first time Dettori has ridden the spirited youngster—Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for the Caribbean Classic—Gutierrez thinks the combination of Dettori's experience and his willingness to take on a challenge will be a good complement to Kukulkan's personality. 

"We started to think about riders, and I said, 'Why not Dettori?'" Gutierrez explained. "So we called him, and he said, 'Yes, I'm very, very interested in this challenge.' I told him this is not the classic kind of race you ride at Ascot or Newmarket, and he said not to worry. He's very motivated to be here and likes to be present at this event. It's a nice experience and he's won races like this before, so it's nice to take the chance." 

For Gutierrez and his team, it's hard to feel anything but proud of their dark bay power player. The combination of opportunity and experience Kukulkan will receive in a race as prestigious as the Pegasus, Gutierrez said, will only benefit the horse in the long run. The chance to measure his talent against some of the most well-respected horses in the game will likely serve as a barometer of success for the colt's career going forward. 

"I think Kukulkan has the quality and is ready to give the best effort he can," Gutierrez said. "And we know how big of an effort this will be. He's one of the youngest horses in the race."

Set to break from post 9 at morning-line odds of 30-1, Kukulkan has been written off by handicappers, but his fans are widespread and ready to cheer on Mexico's native son. Among them is one of Golden Gate Fields' top jockeys, Mexico native Juan "JJ" Hernandez. Hernandez's father, Jose, is the colt's exercise rider.

"They know they are going to be running against some of the best horses in the world in the Pegasus," Hernandez said. "My dad told me that the horse is doing great, he looks great, and he's feeling good. Hopefully, he will run good and it will be a good trip. They are going to try."

Gutierrez is managing his expectations but holding on to optimism. What he hopes for his protégé, he said, is that he will be able to achieve a career like Argentina-bred Invasor, who dominated in the early 2000s by winning the Uruguay Triple Crown, five grade 1 stakes in the U.S., and the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1). 

"I know to have the kind of horse like Invasor is one in a million," Gutierrez said. "But why not Kukulkan? Maybe it's time to have another."