ETOBICOKE, Ontario - An impressive list of 51 nominees, including last year's two-three finishers, Arkadian Hero and Affirmed Success, has been unveiled for the fourth running of the $1 million Atto Mile.

Both Arkadian Hero and Affirmed Success are expected back for the 2001 Atto Mile, a Grade 1 turf race for 3-year-olds and up which will be run at Woodbine on Sept. 9.

Arkadian Hero, beaten a nose here last year after dwelling at the start, went on to finish 14th and last in the Breeders' Cup Mile after again experiencing problems at the gate.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Although there is a high level of competition on the backstretch, when the day is done the racing fraternity sticks together.

That was evident at Northlands Park this week as the community reached out to assist jockey Arturo Rosales, who was seriously injured in a three-horse pileup last Friday night.

AUBURN, Wash. - One California invader has arrived at Emerald Downs to prepare for Sunday's 66th running of the Grade 3 $250,000 Longacres Mile, and it is uncertain whether there will be other shippers for the race.

Prodigious, who is coming off a second-place finish in the $100,000 Joseph T. Grace Handicap at Santa Rosa on Aug. 4, arrived by van from San Francisco at the barn of local trainer Rick Terry on Monday.

"I galloped him for the first time this morning, and he went great," Terry said on Wednesday. "He is a big, classy horse with a fantastic mind about him."

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Saturday's Minnesota Festival of Champions at Canterbury Park comprises eight races for state-breds, six for Thoroughbreds and two for Quarter Horses.

In the $50,000 Northern Lights Debutante, 12 2-year-old fillies all try six furlongs for the first time. Susie Blues may be favored in the Debutante off a nine-length win in her debut in June. She is trained by Vic Hanson and owned by Barbara Kelley, who won last year's Debutante with Timbia. Susie Blues drew post 12 and will be ridden by Derek Bell.

A field of six horses has been entered for Sunday's 11th running of the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Skimming, who went wire-to-wire in this race last year, will return to defend his crown and has been installed by the track as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Garrett Gomez will have the mount aboard Skimming, who will break from post 3.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Officer turned Wednesday's $150,000 Best Pal Stakes into a public workout, winning his graded stakes debut by seven lengths in an effortless performance.

Officer beat two opponents, leaving Metatron behind at the top of the stretch and Essence of Dubai on the final turn. Two others were scratched. Ecstatic was withdrawn on Wednesday morning, while Werblin was scratched with two

minutes to post after jockey Chris McCarron reported that the colt "didn't feel right" according to trainer Eduardo Inda.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Front-running Tailor's Thread will try to hold off a closing Miller's Mark and seven others in Friday's Woodbine feature, a six-furlong optional claimer on the turf.

Tailor's Thread is fresh off a three-length score over $40,000 claimers July 18. He dueled up front through an opening quarter of 22.80 seconds in that six-furlong turf dash, and established a daylight lead after a half in 45.80. He had plenty left after setting those relatively slow fractions, and pulled away in the final furlong to finish in 1:09.40.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - He is a bright chestnut with a white face, a huge horse with a massive stride that eats up the turf. He is the top grass horse in the country, capable of sustaining his speed over the longest distances in American flat racing. Once you've seen him race, Bienamado is not the kind of horse you quickly forget.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - While his main rival from New York was assigned the rail, Bienamado, the pride of California and currently the top turf horse in North America, drew post 10 in a stellar field of 12 older horses entered in the Arlington Million, which will be run for the 19th time Saturday at Arlington Park.

DEL MAR, Calif. - It doesn't matter to Ron McAnally where he succeeds on Saturday.

McAnally has starters in major stakes at Arlington Park and Del Mar and is hoping to end a bleak month. On Wednesday, he won his first race of the Del Mar meeting with Penamacor, his 24th starter. Last year's record was also disappointing: McAnally had two winners from 67 starters.