Mario Gutierrez: Jockey's Meteoric Rise Will Lead Him to Top of His Sport

Mario Gutierrez has gone from a relatively unknown jockey to the center of the horse racing world in just a matter of weeks, and his rise to fame is just beginning. 

Gutierrez will mount I'll Have Another at the Belmont with a chance to win the Triple Crown—a feat that has not been accomplished in 34 years. 

That right there is a clear ticket to immortality, but win or lose at the Preakness, Gutierrez has just begun carving out his legacy. 

This talented 25-year-old has displayed a poise that goes well beyond his age or experience. The Kentucky Derby was his first Triple Crown run, and he performed brilliantly bringing his horse, I'll Have Another, to victory down the home stretch. 

In that race, they fell behind early. It would have been understandable if the Triple Crown rookie panicked and pushed his horse to hard early to avoid falling behind. Gutierrez did no such thing, and it paid off with an epic win.

With that win, the charming, polite and humble Gutierrez was thrown right into the middle of the national media spotlight. This cast him into a vastly different role for the Preakness. 

He had gone from an underdog with little to no expectations, to one of the favorites with all the eyes of the sporting world fixed right on him, and he handled that just as masterfully. 

Again, he and I'll Have Another fell behind early. Gutierrez didn't flinch, waver or try to dominate his horse. He let his horse run his race, and calmly guided him to a perfect position to explode down the stretch, which eventually led to his second Triple Crown win.

In both rides, Gutierrez has proven he can handle any situation and give his mount the best chance to win. You better believe the entire sporting world has taken notice. 

Gutierrez is now going to be one of the most sought-after jockeys in the sport. He is going to have his choice of quality rides and he will get the most out of them. 

He is going to rack up wins, trophies and fame for years to come.