What a View Pushes Through to Wire the Field in the G3 American

ARCADIA, CA –  What a View wired the field in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 American Stakes at Santa Anita. His impressive performance here was the first win of 2018 for the Cal-Bred son of Vronsky and his third career graded stakes victory.

What a View shot out of the gate to take an early lead while Blackjackcat and Sawyer’s Hill sat in behind him. Sawyer’s hill quickly fell to the back of the pack giving room for Ritzy A.P. and Kenjisstorm to join Blackjackcat just off the pace. Meanwhile, Colonist sat just behind the rest waiting to make his move. Into the second turn, Colonist was pushed three-wide by jockey Drayden Van Dyke and quickly pulled up alongside the trio of Blackjackcat, Ritzy A.P., and Kenjisstorm. With Colonist advancing quickly What a View was urged forward and had no problem holding off the horses behind him. Although Colonist continued to gain on the leader, the wire came quick enough for What a View who won by a neck. Colonist finished a strong second followed by Kenjisstorm and Blackjackcat.

“He broke great and he made an easy lead. He was comfortable and he took care of business,” said jockey Stewart Elliott after the race. “It worked out good.”

What a View is owned by Finish Line Racing and Trained by Kenny Black. After the race, Black seemed eager to build on the success of What a View and said they are aiming for a stakes start in late May. “We’ll look at both the Shoemaker and the Crystal Water (Cal-bred restricted),” Black said after the race.

What a View returned $14.20 to win, $7.80 to place, and $4.20 to show. Colonist brought back $5.80 to place and $3.20 to show, while Kenjisstorm paid $2.80 to show.