__VASTLY IMPROVED EXAULTED SCORES BY 1 ½ LENGTHS IN GRADE III, $100,000 AMERICAN STAKES, TRAINED BY EURTON, HE GETS MILE ON GRASS IN 1:33.65 __

ARCADIA, CA (April 2, 2023)—Vastly improved since switched to turf, the Pete Eurton-trained Exaulted sat close to the early pace, took charge turning for home and kicked clear as much the best to take Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 American Stakes at Santa Anita. Owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s C R K Stable and ridden by Juan Hernandez, the 6-year-old full horse by Twirling Candy got one mile on turf in 1:33.65.

With longshot Bob and Jackie and Jose Valdivia, Jr. showing the way, Exaulted stalked just to his outside and when Hernandez asked him mid-way around the far turn, he kicked on like horse who’s capable of handling tougher competition next time.

“We just kind of ran out of options,” said Eurton. “He wasn’t running as well as a 5-year-old…(something) just wasn’t right, so I think as a last resort we thought we’d give him a try on the grass. I think (spacing) is the key for him with a long year. He is big, he’s heavy…(Juan Hernandez) is just phenomenal, this guy. (He) is riding with no fear, he just so confident in his abilities and it shows you right there and in many other (cases).”

A winner of two consecutive one mile turf allowances here on Jan. 2 and Feb. 5, Exaulted, in his first stakes assignment on grass, was pounded down to the second choice in a field of six older horses and paid $5.80, $3.60 and $2.80.

Third in both the Grade II San Carlos and Grade II Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs on dirt here in March and May of 2021, Exaulted, who is out of the Gilded Time mare Gilded Miracle, has unquestionably found a new home on turf.

In getting his first stakes win in career start number 14, he picked up $60,000, increasing his earnings to $303,660 while notching his fourth overall victory.

“We broke a little slow because he kind of moved before we broke, but it worked out fine,” said Hernandez, who got his meet-leading 12th stakes win and 55th win overall, 28 clear of runner-up Flavien Prat’s 27. “The other horse went and I just stalked him and I was just really confident in him. He was in the bridle and around the three eighths, I thought I had a lot of horse.

“There wasn’t a lot of speed, but the fractions today looked really strong. He’s really professional, I just gave him a target and turning for home, I shook the reins and he exploded. He’s getting better every race.”

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Argentine-bred Irideo was last turning for and put in a solid run to finish a half length in front of Bob and Jackie. Dismissed at 13-1, Irideo paid $9.00 and $4.40.

Off at 10-1, Bob and Jackie held off 7-5 favorite Du Jour and Frankie Dettori by a neck and paid $5.20 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.71, 46.45, 1:10.17 and 1:21.89.

Live racing resumes on Friday with first post time for a nine-race card at 1 p.m.