In its short history, the $1 million Atto Mile (G1) at Woodbine has seen some of the best turf milers make their final preps on their way to the Breeders' Cup Mile. This year, Brazilian-bred Leroidesanimaux shipped in for trainer Bobby Frankel as the current points leader, coming into the race off a 7-race winning streak which started in California. With such credentials, "Leroy," as he is called in the barn, was bet down to 3-5 favoritism in the field of nine. Last year's third place finisher Royal Regalia was back for another try at Atto glory, and Neil Drysdale, who has won this event twice already, shipped in Inglewood Handicap winner King of Happiness from Del Mar. Steady rain all day Friday and into Saturday morning rendered the course soft at the start of the card, but by the time the Atto went to post it had been upgraded to yielding.
When the gate opened, the grey Royal Regalia made a bid for the lead and got to the 1/4 mile marker first in 23.07, but Leroidesanimaux, who broke from the rail, had already moved up along the inside and drew even with the early leader. At the end of the 1/2 mile backstretch run, the heavy favorite was a length in front but had yet to be asked by jockey John Velazquez. Rounding the turn, Royal Regalia stopped badly, eventually finishing last, leaving Leroidesanimaux with an uncontested lead through 3/4 in 1:10.26, two lengths clear of the nearest competition. Through the lane, Velazquez waved his whip and "Leroy" responded, opening up to a 7 3/4 length margin at the line, finishing the mile in 1:35.08 over the yielding course. 26-1 longshot Mobil was second and 18-1 shot Le Cinquieme Essai was third. Second choice King of Happiness stalked the pace early but failed to fire in the stretch, finishing fifth.
Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "I wanted to make sure he broke well and got a good position. Once I got in a good position, I knew he was comfortable, and after that I just kind of sat against him. Coming to the quarter-pole, I just kind of shook him up and he responded right away. I shook the whip at him and I hit him one time and he kept opening up on the field. He did it pretty easily. I was hoping that he would like this kind of going, and he obviously handled it perfect."
Winning trainer Bobby Frankel said, "He has got to rank up there with the better turf horses I have ever trained, he never gets beat. We broke real good, and John let him run out there a little bit, made the lead, now I am wondering if he was going to like the (soft) ground, then I am seeing him open up 3/4 of a length, a length, when I looked up at the television he was drawn out a little bit. It's eligible (to be soft) at Belmont in the fall. At least that's one good thing we got out of the way that we know he can handle soft ground."
Asked if he would go on to the Breeders' Cup Mile, he added, "I am sure the owner wants to supplement, and if he's doing really well, we will probably go. I had this race in mind (for a final prep) or the Shadwell Mile, and I chose this race. It gives us plenty of time before we are going to go to the Breeders Cup, and he runs well fresh, and we obviously did the right thing."
Asked about the streak, Frankel said, "To win eight races in a row, you have to be a horse that doesn't make mistakes, and he doesn't make any. This is the easiest I've ever seen him work because usually he doesn't try to draw away like that. He likes to hang around the other horses. But he was just too strong today."
