What a View Extends Streak in Thunder Road

What a View showed some versatility April 9 to secure his fourth straight victory on the Santa Anita Park turf.



The normally front-running son of Vronsky raced off the early leaders in sixth place Saturday in the $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes (gr. IIIT), passed horses in the final turn of the mile grass test, took command at the top of the stretch, and prevailed by a length. Twentytwentyvision closed from ninth to edge Soul Driver for second at the wire.



The 5-year-old gelding trained by Kenny Black won the first three races of his current streak on or right off the lead, in a December allowance, the California Cup Turf Classic Jan. 30, and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) March 12.



In the Thunder Road he was 3 1/4 lengths behind pacesetter Si Sage after a quarter in :23.62, 2 3/4 lengths behind after a half in :48.27, and moved up alongside the leader through six furlongs in 1:13.46.



Soul Driver made a similar move with What a View and appeared to have momentum at the top of the stretch, but could not get past the winner, who hit the wire with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard to finish off the mile in 1:39.01 on turf rated yielding.



"What a ride," Black said. "I would have never given those instructions. I didn't give (Desormeaux) instructions—he knows the horse better than me—but going into the first turn, I was questioning his tactics. There was no speed in the race and he's sitting fifth or sixth and three (lengths) off him.



"I would have bet every dim I had that he'd be on the lead when he turned down the backside."



It was one of three graded stakes wins on the day for Desormeaux, who also rode Exaggerator to victory in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and Decked Out in the Providencia (gr. IIIT).



"There's no way, in the last month or two, that he (would) let me ride him like he let me ride him today," Desormeaux said. "I think the horse is starting to figure (Kenny and me) out more than the other way around."



The 4-5 favorite, What a View paid $3.80, $2.60, and $2.60 across the board. TwentyTwentyvision brought $3 and $3.20, and Soul Driver delivered $6.20 to show.



Poshsky finished an even fourth, followed by Decisive Edge, grade I winner Finnegans Wake, Play Hard to Get, Si Sage, Papacoolpapacool, Cool Green, and De Treville to complete the order of finish. Texas Red and McHeat were scratched.



Bred in California by Old English Rancho, Patsy Berumen, and Sal Berumen, out of the Manila mare Oceans N Mountains, What a View has a 6-2-0 record from 12 starts and earnings of $592,148.