ARCADIA, Calif. - At the age of 6, and 14 races into his oft-interrupted career, Exaulted has found a niche in one-mile turf races. On Sunday at Santa Anita, Exaulted won his first stakes, and extended his unbeaten streak on turf to 3 races, in the Grade 3 American Stakes. “Putting him on the grass is the extra thing he needed,” said Lee Searing, who co-owns the horse with his wife, Susan. “I’ve liked this horse because of all that he’s been through. To win a stakes is pretty cool.” Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Exaulted ($5.80) stalked pacesetter Bob and Jackie to early stretch and gradually pulled clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 13-1 Irideo, who closed from last. :: Get ready for Santa Anita racing with DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports.  Exaulted, trained by Peter Eurton, was timed in 1:33.65 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93, which equals his career best. Bob and Jackie (10-1) set a decent pace of 22.71 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.45 for a half-mile, never leading by more than a length over Exaulted, the second choice in a field of six. Bob and Jackie held third, beaten two lengths. Du Jour, the 7-5 favorite, finished fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths. Du Jour was well-placed in third for the first six furlongs, but was not a threat in the stretch. Earls Rock and Vanzzy completed the order of finish. Exaulted has won 4 of 14 starts and earned $303,660. The $100,500 American Stakes was his first appearance in a stakes since a third in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita in May 2021. Exaulted did not race again for exactly a year when he finished fourth in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes in May 2022. The American Stakes was Exaulted’s eighth race since that yearlong layoff. By Twirling Candy, Exaulted won his first two starts on turf in allowance races on Jan. 2 and Feb. 5. Earlier in his career, Exaulted had two starts in early 2020 – before the pandemic – but did not race again until December of that year. Exaulted had three starts in early 2021 before he was rested. “It isn’t that he couldn’t run on the dirt,” Searing said. “It took time getting him good. It’s been little issues.” The American Stakes could be part of a memorable early April for the Searings, who race as CRK Stable. On Saturday, they plan to start Skinner in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Skinner was third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 4, and has trained well in recent weeks under the direction of John Shirreffs. Lee Searing was bullish on Sunday afternoon regarding Skinner’s chances in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby. “They’ll have to beat him,” Searing said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.