Santa Anita: Exaulted is much the best in winning American
Vastly improved since switched to turf, Peter 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 3, $100,000 American Stakes at Santa Anita.
Owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s C R K Stable and ridden by Juan Hernández, the 6-year-old full horse by Twirling Candy got one mile on turf in 1:33.65.
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With long shot Bob and Jackie showing the way under jockey José Valdivia Jr., Exaulted stalked just to his outside. When Hernández asked him midway around the far turn, he kicked on like a horse who would be capable of handling tougher competition next time.
“We just kind of ran out of options,” Eurton said. “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.”
A winner of two consecutive one-mile turf allowances Jan. 2 and Feb. 5 at Santa Anita, Exaulted was pounded down to the second choice in his first stakes on trass. Finishing first in a field of six older horses, he paid $5.80, $3.60 and $2.80.
Third in both the San Carlos (G2) and Triple Bend (G2) going seven furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita in 2021, the son of the Gilded Time mare Gilded Miracle found a home on the turf.
In getting his first stakes win in career start 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 Héctor Berrios, Argentina-bred Irideo was last turning for home 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.
Early fractions for the race were 22.71, 46.45, 1:10.17 and 1:21.89.