What a View's tender feet get vacation

ARCADIA, Calif. – The top turf horse in California will miss most of the summer due to tender feet. What a View, whose four-win streak during the Santa Anita winter meet included the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile and Grade 3 Thunder Road, is out until at least August, trainer Kenny Black said.

“We’re just giving his feet a little time to get healthy,” Black said. “He’s got bad feet, and that’s why he likes the soft grass.”

What a View’s last three starts were on a Santa Anita course labeled “yielding” or “good.”

What a View wears glue-on shoes to avoid foot soreness that can be caused by shoeing nails. With summer around the corner and firm turf courses ahead, Black figured it was a good time for a break.

“I don’t like my chances of catching soft grass on the fourth of June in the Shoemaker,” Black said. “Not in California.”

What a View deserved a vacation.

“He’s had 10 races in eight months. He earned it,” Black said. “We’re looking at maybe the Del Mar Mile [on Aug. 21] or something back east. Try to get one race, maybe two in him before the Breeders’ Cup [Mile].”

A California-bred 5-year-old gelding sired by Vronsky, What a View has won 6 of 12 starts and earned $592,148.