Take the One O One in the driver’s seat

DEL MAR, Calif. – The ability to be effective whether sprinting on dirt or going two turns on turf has made Take the One O One a major player in California-bred stakes races for 3-year-olds, and he looks well spotted for another top performance Friday at Del Mar when he heads the field in the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes.

Take the One O One captured the Snow Chief Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on turf in his last start June 2 at Santa Anita, but he’s perfectly fine sprinting, too, with two wins in four such starts, including a maiden victory at Del Mar last summer. He is cutting back to seven furlongs on dirt for the Real Good Deal, which will mark the seventh different distance at which he has competed in nine starts.

“He does it all,” trainer Brian Koriner said. “I don’t know what his best distance is. I don’t know if we’ve seen it yet. It might be long on the turf for all I know.”

In fact, Koriner said he is using the Real Good Deal as a bridge to get Take the One O One ready to go back to two turns on turf in the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2.

Seven other 3-year-olds are entered against Take the One O One in the Real Good Deal. Joe Talamo, who has been aboard Take the One O One for all his starts, choose him over the unbeaten Smiling Angelo, who is making his stakes debut after a maiden and an allowance win at Santa Anita under Talamo. Mike Smith picked up that mount.

“Sorry we had to lose Joe but happy we got Mike,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

The Real Good Deal goes as race 6 on an eight-race card that begins at 4 p.m. Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

Take the One O One, by Acclamation Last 3 Beyers: 84-92-79

◗ He was third as the favorite in the Echo Eddie on April 7 at Santa Anita the last time he sprinted. Koriner said he’s better now than then.

“He just keeps training better and better,” he said.

Smiling Angelo, by Smiling Tiger Beyers: 86-78

◗ He flashed high speed to score front-running victories in both his starts while overcoming inside draws. He benefits this time by landing post 4, so he’s not stuck inside.

◗ Smith was aboard for a tune-up when Smiling Angelo worked five furlongs from the gate in 59.20 seconds on Saturday.

Psycho Dar, by Storm Wolf Last 3 Beyers: 78-72-73

◗ He was third behind Take the One O One in the Snow Chief, but now returns to sprinting and to Del Mar, conditions under which he’s 2 for 2.

Daddysprize, by Scat Daddy Last 3 Beyers: 78-78-N/A

◗ He is unbeaten in his three sprints and comes off a victory against open company last time out at Pleasanton.

BENOIT PHOTO Take the One O One goes from a stakes win in a two-turn turf race to seven furlongs on dirt for the Real Good Deal.