Union Place, winner of the Calder Derby in his last start Oct. 12, galloped one mile on Hollywood Park's main track Wednesday under exercise rider Juan Aracena for the $500,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) on Sunday.Trainer Randy Schulhofer will saddle the colt in the 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-olds."He's doing great; he feels good," said Aracena after the Florida-bred colt's first visit to the track.
"I couldn't be any happier the way he is coming up to the race," said Schulhofer, son of Hall of Fame trainer Scotty Schulhofer, from New York. "He ran a big race winning the Calder Derby and he's run into some nice horses while finishing second. He runs pretty close to the pace."Edgar Prado will ride Union Place, which worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00 at Belmont Park Nov. 20. The son of Out of Place has recorded three firsts and six seconds in 17 starts and earned $285,350.A field of nine is probable for the Hollywood Derby: Union Place (Prado), Johar (Alex Solis), Rock Opera (Laffit Pincay, Jr.), Inesperado (Corey Nakatani), Royal Gem (Jerry Bailey), Century City (Mike Smith), Mananan McLir (Patrick Valenzuela), Music's Storm (Kent Desormeaux) and Surprized (David Flores). All starters will carry 122 pounds.