What a View to return in Seabiscuit

When front-runner What a View and jockey Tyler Baze blazed to the lead in the Breeders’ Cup Mile two weeks ago at Santa Anita, setting absurd fractions of 21.81 and 44.61 seconds, trainer Kenny Black was aghast. “I couldn’t believe Tyler,” Black said. “I don’t know what the hell he was thinking. The nerve – he was actually following instructions.”

Yes, watching the BC Mile unfold, one had to wonder – what was Baze doing with What a View? As the trainer acknowledged, Baze was riding to directions.

“I felt bad for Tyler,” Black said. “Tyler rode him exactly the way I told him to. That one was on me.”

What a View, empty after six furlongs in 1:08.59, finished last. In hindsight, Black said he should have known better. What a View had changed.

In early races, What a View would set the pace and slow on his own. He was kind of a goof. He needed a pony to accompany him to train, and galloped daily in blinkers. But when What a View, a California-bred Grade 1 winner, returned in fall after a six-month layoff, he was different. What a View would do whatever he was asked.

“Apparently he grew up and matured a bunch,” Black said. “He didn’t go in blinkers, and he didn’t need the pony. I told Tyler to jack him away and he would throw up his ears and come back to you. But he didn’t come back. I didn’t know he had 44-108 in him.”

The good news is What a View came out of the BC Mile in such good shape that plans call for a start Nov. 26 at Del Mar in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap. Black said Baze will be back aboard, and this time both trainer and jockey will know what to expect.

◗ Soi Phet, the California-bred five-time stakes winner, has been turned out for a two-month freshening after finishing sixth in a minor stakes Nov. 3 at Santa Anita. Trainer Leonard Powell said the gelding will get a “well-deserved” vacation and return in spring. Soi Phet has earned more than $700,000 since Powell claimed him for $16,000 in 2013.

◗ Masochistic, the Cal-bred gelding who finished second as the BC Sprint favorite, has returned to light training. “No excuses, but he didn’t run his ‘A’ race,” trainer Ron Ellis said regarding the Breeders’ Cup.

Masochistic, a three-time graded-stakes-winning sprinter, will race in 2017. His campaign has not been determined.