What a View sharp in prep for Shoemaker Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. - What a View, the 6-year-old gelding, and his trainer, Kenny Black, are big fans of Santa Anita’s turf course.

Saturday, What a View won his sixth race in 10 starts on the Santa Anita turf course in the $98,000 Crystal Water Stakes for California-bred turf milers. The race served as a prep for the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf on June 3.

“I told my owners I’d rather run this horse on turf than work him three times on dirt,” Black said in the winner’s circle.

What a View, the 1-2 favorite, led throughout the Crystal Water, winning by a length over Pee Wee Reese.

“I was hoping he wouldn’t have to run as hard as he did, but my horses have been coming out of their races on this turf course better than they come out of the their works,” Black said.

Earlier this year, What a View was second in three consecutive turf stakes here – a half-length loss in the California Cup Turf Classic in January, a head loss in the Grade 2 Arcadia Mile in February, and a head loss in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile in March. What a View won the 2016 Kilroe Mile.

In his only start outside of California this year, What a View was sixth in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland on April 14.

The $400,000 Shoemaker Mile is the top turf race of the track’s spring-summer meeting. What a View has won 7 of 20 starts and earned $824,326 for the partnership of Finish Line Racing, the family of the late Bud Johnston, and Taste of Victory Stable.