Kukulkan, Patternrecognition confirmed for Pegasus World Cup

Cuadra San Jorge’s Kukulkan, winner of Mexico’s Triple Crown and undefeated in 14 races, has been confirmed for the Grade 1, $9 million Pegasus World Cup, the richest race in North America to be contested Saturday, Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

Kukulkan, last seen winning the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe at Gulfstream Dec. 8 on Clasico Internacional del Caribe Day, was shipped back to Mexico the week after Clasico and has been galloping at Hipodromo Las Americas.

“We are shipping the horse on 17 of January,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “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 saddle Kukulkan, against the likes of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light, Classic runner-up Gunnevera, Florida Derby (G1) winner Audible, Preakness (G1) runner-up Bravazo and Cigar Mile (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.”

Chad Brown-trained Patternrecognition, who two starts back won the Kelso Handicap (G2) in his first stakes start, posted his first work back from the Cigar Mile on Saturday, breezing a half mile in 50.11 seconds at Belmont Park.