Settling in for the Atto Mile

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Irish Prize, the probable favorite for the Grade 1 Atto Mile, checked in to Woodbine Wednesday morning and will be saddled by trainer Neil Drysdale in Sunday's $1 million (Canadian) race.

Affirmed Success and Brahms, who are likely to be the second and third choices in a field of 14, arrived from New York Wednesday afternoon.

Irish Prize will be seeking his fourth straight graded turf stakes victory, having won the Fastness and Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park and the Firecracker at Churchill Downs in his last start July 4. Gary Stevens retains the mount.

Affirmed Success, third in last year's Atto Mile for trainer Rick Schosberg, is unbeaten in two starts at age 7 this year. Both wins came under Jerry Bailey, who will ride him Sunday. His latest score came in Belmont's Poker, which was taken off the turf, July 4.

Brahms, who was beaten a half-length by Irish Prize when third in the Shoemaker Mile, will be returning to turf after finishing third in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in his last start June 16. Pat Day will be back in the irons.

Two Atto Mile invaders were slated to arrive later in the week.

City West, who was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Irish Prize in the 1 1/8-mile Fastness, was due in from Saratoga Thursday and will be ridden by Shane Sellers.

Trainer Michael Dickinson, who is based in Maryland, was expected to enter either Slew Valley or Union One on Thursday. He will ship Friday.

Quiet Resolve, winner of the 1999 Atto Mile after the disqualification of first-place finisher Hawksley Hill, heads this year's local contingent. Owned by Sam-Son Farm and trained by Mark Frostad, Quiet Resolve will be looking for firm footing after finishing 10th over yielding going in the recent Arlington Million.

Other locally based entrants likely to run in the Atto Mile include Numerous Times, who is undefeated in five career starts but will be making his stakes debut; Kimberlite Pipe and Hard Currency, the one-two finishers in a one-mile turf allowance here Aug. 24; Alea Iacta Est and Dawson's Legacy, the third and fourth finishers in the Play the King, a seven-furlong turf race here Aug. 25; Red Sea, who disappointed badly in the Aug. 24 prep but has come back to work well; and Wake at Noon, who finished fourth in last Saturday's Forego at Saratoga.

Atto contender Blast of Storm, based in Barbados but racing here for a turf campaign, finished sixth behind Kimberlite Pipe in his local debut. He has impressed in subsequent works.

Kimberlite Pipe and Blast of Storm both drilled here Wednesday morning, with Kimberlite Pipe sizzling four furlongs over a fast main track in a bullet 46.60 seconds under exercise rider Peter Yearwood and Blast of Storm going five furlongs in 59.20 under jockey Jono Jones with the dogs well out on a firm main turf course.

Ramon Dominguez, North America's leading rider in races won and winner of three stakes in his only mounts at Woodbine, has the call on Kimberlite Pipe.