HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Fausto Gutierrez shipped to Gulfstream Park last year under the radar before sending out fillies Jala Jala and Joyme to finish first and third at odds of 10-1 and 44-1 in the first renewal of the Clasico del Caribe ever decided outside of Latin America or the Caribbean. But when Gutierrez returns to South Florida for the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe, he’ll do so with a target on his back and the pressure of saddling the undefeated and likely odds-on favorite Kukulkan in the richest of the five stakes that make up the Clasico Internacional del Caribe portion of Saturday’s all-stakes program at Gulfstream Park. First post for the 11-race card is scheduled for 11:50 a.m. Eastern. Kukulkan enters the Clasico perfect in 13 career starts. He swept all three legs of Mexico’s Triple Crown earlier this season and has been a one-sided winner of all three of his races at the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Clasico. “It’s a very different situation from last year with Jala Jala,” said Gutierrez. “She was 10-1 and a filly against the boys. There was no pressure. This year, all the eyes are on him. But this is the position that every trainer who comes here would like to be in.” :: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs Kukulkan will break from post 3 in the field of 10 3-year-olds with Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride the son of Point Determined for the first time on Saturday. Ortiz won three of the five stakes on the 2017 Clasico Internacional program, including the Clasico del Caribe aboard Jala Jala. “The post is good and I expect him to show speed and try to avoid the traffic,” said Gutierrez. “And he’s in good hands with Irad. He’s training well, he’s adapted well to the new surroundings. He’s ready.” Kukulkan is one of two horses Gutierrez will send out in defense of his title in the Clasico along with Kandinsky, who has finished behind his highly regarded stablemate in all five meetings this year. “He’s a nice horse and has trained well, and he did finish near Kukulkan a couple of times earlier this year,” said Gutierrez. “Kukulkan has changed a lot since then, but now we have a different track, which is an extra factor, so why not try for a one-two finish?” The Clasico drew representatives from Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, and Puerto Rico. Among those given the best chance to upset the heavy favorite are Bukowski, Sol De Orion, Senor Ben Hur, and El Salsero. Bukowski was an easy winner of his last two starts, both Group 1 races in his native Venezuela. He has not finished worse than second in seven outings at 3. Sol De Orion and Senor Ben Hur combined to sweep all three legs of Panama’s Triple Crown earlier this year, with each of those events decided at nine furlongs. El Salsero, the lone representative in the field from Puerto Rico, was an easy winner of a Group 2 race in his most recent start. While Kukulkan is the star of the Caribe Internacional program, it is Jala Jala who could make history if she can beat males again in the $100,000 Copa Confraternidad. If she does, it would make her the first filly to ever win the Clasico’s premier races for 3-year-olds and for older horses. The Panamanian colt El Tigre Mono turned the trick winning the Clasico in 2016 and Copa Confraternidad here last year. [En Espanol] Clasico del Caribe 2018 Avance Jala Jala has won 5 of 6 starts since her eye-catching triumph in the 2017 Clasico. She’ll also have Ortiz aboard, while getting an eight pound break in weights as one of only two females in the Copa Confraternidad, along with the 5-year-old Black Widow. “She’s also done very well since arriving here,” Gutierrez said. “I think she’s training as well as she did before the Clasico last year and now she knows the place better, which is also very good. We’ve come here with high expectations for our entire stable.” Jala Jala’s competition in the Confraternidad will include three of her victims from last year’s Clasico – Fray Angelico (2nd), Justiciero (5th), and Inspirato (7th), along with Exclusivo, who is unbeaten – and has been virtually unchallenged – in eight starts this season, all in Puerto Rico. Exclusivo, who made his first two starts on the U.S. East Coast, boasts a 15-race win streak dating back to his first start in Puerto Rico in late 2015. Black Widow finished third and second against males in her last two starts, both Group 1 races in Venezuela at 1 1/4 miles. The remainder of the Clasico Internacional program includes the $77,500 Invitational Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/4 miles; the $89,000 Lady Caribbean Cup for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles; and the six-furlong, $105,800 Caribbean Cup Speed.