Gutierrez planning to keep string in Florida after Clasico Internacional del Caribe

MIAMI – Trainer Fausto Gutierrez, who has won the main event on the Clasico Internacional del Caribe program at Gulfstream Park each of the last two years, said he plans to keep a stable of horses in the area to run during the 2019-20 Championship meeting this winter.

Gutierrez sent out Jala Jala and Kukulkan to win the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe for 3-year-olds in 2017 and 2018, respectively, the first two years the Clasico International has been run outside of Latin America or Puerto Rico. Jala Jala returned last year to capture the 1 1/4-mile Copa Confraternidad, a double Gutierrez will attempt to repeat with Kukulkan on Dec. 8.

Gutierrez said he has 16 horses stabled at Palm Meadows, including a dozen 2-year-olds he hopes to have ready to run this winter. He shipped his four contenders for this year’s Clasico Internacional card, including Kukulkan, to Gulfstream Park late last week to prepare for their races.

Kukulkan was the first of the group to work locally, breezing four furlongs in 49.74 seconds on Sunday. Kukulkan remained in the U.S. after posting his 14th consecutive victory in last year’s Clasico. He won one of five subsequent starts, and finished second and third in two stakes.

“Jala Jala was a very good horse, but she was a filly facing males,” said Gutierrez. “She responded, but it was a tough race for her. I think Kukulkan is even better. He has competed in better races. He has gotten bigger, stronger as he’s gotten older and I’m looking forward to him having a very good 5-year-old campaign next season.”

Gutierrez said he plans to return to Mexico for two months following the Caribe International card before returning here on a full-time basis in January and February. He also reported that Jala Jala, who finished fifth in the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream last spring, was retired following that start and has been bred to Distorted Humor.

Along with Kukulkan, Gutierrez will also run Igor in the Copa Confraternidad, Group 1 winner Laika in the Copa Dama del Caribe for 3-year-old fillies, and Lopecitos in the Clasico.