Take the One O One shows new dimension in Snow Chief

ARCADIA, Calif. – Take the One O One won his first stakes in his longest career race in Saturday’s $200,345 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita, a race marred by the fatal fall of Waya Ed in the stretch.

Take the One O One ($5.20) closed from fourth in the final three furlongs to win by 1 3/4 lengths over 3-2 favorite Hardboot and getting an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

Hardboot rallied wide to finish second. In the final furlong, Waya Ed, ridden by Tiago Pereira, was guided between rivals when he clipped heels and fell heavily. Waya Ed sustained a tibia injury and was euthanized, according to track officials.

Pereira was transported to a local hospital for precautionary observation, according to the stewards.

Take the One O One and Waya Ed are owned by Samantha Siegel and trained by Brian Koriner.

Take the One O One was timed in 1:49.37. The Snow Chief Stakes was his second start on turf and first race beyond 1 1/16 miles.

Unlike many of his previous races, Take the One O One did not lead or dispute the pace. Jockey Joe Talamo had Take the One O One in third for the first half-mile, racing one or two lengths behind pacesetter Huddle.

“Our plan was to take him back,” Talamo said. “He has so much natural speed. He broke a length on top.

“We had a perfect trip around there.”

On the turn, Talamo guided Take the One O One to the outside and got a quick response, taking the lead in the stretch. Take the One O One was well in front of the spill involving Waya Ed.

“I swung him out and he did it nicely,” Talamo said.

Hardboot, who won the Silky Sullivan Stakes for 3-year-old Cal-breds at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on April 29, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 10-1 Psycho Dar, who was third in the Silky Sullivan.

Hit the Seam finished fourth, followed by Huddle and Continental Divide, who was essentially pulled up to avoid Waya Ed and the fallen Pereira.

Take the One O One has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $255,681. The Snow Chief Stakes was his fourth appearance in a stakes. He was third in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes behind Bolt d’Oro last September and third in the Echo Eddie Stakes for Cal-bred sprinters at 6 1/2 furlongs here in April.