From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 20, 2017)–After three solid performances in graded stakes competition, classy What a View returned home to Santa Anita and relished his role as favorite among Golden State Series eligibles in Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes, winning in gate to wire fashion by one length. Trained by Kenny Black and ridden by Tyler Baze, he negotiated one mile on turf in 1:33.24.
“I thought (eventual second place finisher) Pee Wee Reese would be on the lead, but Tyler read it right and took the initiative,” said Black, who sent his stable star out to a good sixth place finish in the Grade I Maker’s 46 Mile (turf) at Keeneland on April 14. “I was hoping he wouldn’t have to run as hard as he did today, but my horses have been coming out of their races on this turf course better than they come out of their works, so I’m not concerned.
“We’ll come right back in the Shoemaker Mile (Grade I, $400,000 turf on June 3). We came back a little quick in this race, but I told my owners I’d rather run this horse for a $100,000 on turf than work him three times on dirt. Like I say, this is the best grass course in America.”
With no show wagering, What a View, a winner of the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile in March, 2016, was off at 1-2 in a field of four 3-year-olds and up and paid $3.00 and $2.10.
“I know my horse can go fast, and each time I’ve ridden him I’ve learned a little more about him,” said Baze. “He worked dynamite last week and he was ready for today, that’s for sure. “They were coming at him (down the stretch) but he was digging in…
“I told Kenny, ‘He’s ready, don’t wait around. Either work him three or four times and run him in (the Shoemaker Mile) or run him today instead of working him.’ It worked out beautiful. I didn’t think I’d get that easy a lead, but I was real comfortable out there.”
A 6-year-old gelded son of Vronsky and out of the Manila mare, Oceans N Mountains, What a View was bred in California by Old English Rancho and Patsy and Sal Berumen. Owned by Finish Line Racing, LLC, The Elwood Johnston Trust and Taste of Victory Stable, What a View picked up $60,000 for his efforts and now has earnings of $824,326. With five wins from 12 career tries at a mile on turf, What a View is now 20-7-5-0 overall.
An attentive third heading into the far turn, Nick Alexander’s homebred Pee Wee Reese overtook Smokey’s Image three sixteenths out but could never get closer than a length through the stretch and finished second by a half length.
Off at 8-5 with Joe Talamo up, he paid $2.20 to place.
Smokey’s Image, with Flavien Prat, was third by 2 ¼ lengths over Grazen Sky.
Fractions on the race, all set by the winner, were 22.59, 46.00, 1:09.54 and 1:21.20.