One Union Takes Step Up

One Union, who has won two of four against his own age group, will take on older horses for the first time in the seventh race today at Hollywood Park.

Trained by Richard Mandella for owner Herman Sarkowsky, the 3-year-old son of Dixie Union hasn’t been seen since going wire-to-wire in a mile allowance race on Feb. 3 at Santa Anita. The colt who finished directly behind him that day was Point Determined, who has since finished second in the Santa Anita Derby and won last weekend’s Affirmed Handicap.

Purchased for $135,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September sale, One Union has trained well for his return, including a best-of-the-morning 1:11 2/5 drill for six furlongs 10 days ago in Arcadia.

Successful going 5 1/2 furlongs in his career debut last Aug. 13 at Del Mar, One Union will break from the outside in the small field of five scheduled to run in the $51,000 optional claimer at six furlongs. Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard for both of his victories, has the mount.

The main threat to One Union is Hello Fame. A 6-year-old gelded son of Western Fame trained by Chuck Peery for Desert Sun Stables, he is coming off a nose win on the Hollywood Park turf May 26. Patrick Valenzuela will ride the California bred, who will leave from the inside post.

Race of the day: Win McCool, who was beaten by a neck after setting the pace in a Grade II on May 6 at Belmont Park, drops into an easier spot today in search of her second win in six starts in the eighth at Belmont. Richard Migliore will ride the 3-year-old Giant’s Causeway filly, who was the runner-up to Hello Liberty in the Nassau County Breeders’ Cup Handicap last month, for owner-breeder Sabine Stable and trainer Bobby Barbara in the $45,000 allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs.

One for the road: Page Turner missed by a head in her sprint debut on turf and acts like a filly who can stretch out successfully in the ninth race today at Arlington Park. James Graham will ride the 3-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor for Russell Reineman Stable, Inc. and trainer Frank Springer in the $29,000 optional claimer at about 1 1/16 miles.

Exotically speaking: An early pick four using Malley Girl and Julep Cup in the first, Guest and Early Anna in the second, Pace To Burn and Conceptual in the third and Ms Melange, Looking Forward, Heirloom Rose and Future Thought in the fourth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 2/104. Money: (previous day/meet total): $6/$649.40. Total money bet: $732.