A WINNER FROM SHIRREFFS' POSSE.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Daily News Staff Writer

Saturday at Hollywood Park began with Julio Cesar Chavez sparring in a trackside ring and ended with John Shirreffs doing a little roadwork.

Shirreffs is no boxer. He's a thoroughbred trainer whose response to polite requests for interviews following the biggest win of his career was to practically run away from his inquisitors.

``I've got to walk with my horse,'' Shirreffs shouted over one shoulder as he and Borodislew headed to the barn after the mare and substitute jockey Corey Nakatani scored a narrow victory over odds-on favorite Jewel Princess in the $107,000 Hawthorne Handicap.

``I just work with the horses,'' the 50-year-old New Englander explained to the writers who tagged along. ``I'm not very good at interviews or anything.''

Shirreffs is friendly and articulate, so maybe he'll get used to it. Borodislew might force him to.

The 6-year-old daughter of Seattle Slew has won six stakes in the past year, her only defeats coming in the muddy Breeders' Cup Distaff at Belmont and a comeback race at Santa Anita. And now she has upset Jewel Princess, who was coming off a victory over Serena's Song at Churchill Downs.

Shirreffs is on his second tour of duty as Borodislew's conditioner. In between, he was the assistant to Eduardo Inda, briefly the private trainer for Marshall Naify's 505 Farms. Earlier in his three years with 505, Shirreffs was the trainer in name only, while Naify partner Ed Nahem ran Bertrando's affairs.

Under those shadowy circumstances, Shirreffs' reticence was understandable. But now that he's the man in charge of 23 horses, there's no dodging the spotlight. He is 4 for 9 at Hollypark. Saturday's Grade II win was his first of that quality.

The at-the-track crowd of 20,169 - swelled by the Chavez exhibition promoting his June 7 Oscar De La Hoya fight - witnessed a day full of firsts.

The second race was a runaway for the 2-year-old filly A.P. Assay - who, as the name gives away, is by 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy and is the first foal out of local stakes winner Nice Assay.

The fourth went to first-time starter Bold as Beau, who gave trainer Howard Zucker his fourth winner from five starters at the meet. A .800 batting average is sensational in any league, except maybe the American.

The fifth-race winner, Red Hills, was the first for Phil Gleaves since the trainer moved to California. Gleaves also won the seventh with Truth of It All ($32.20).

Ron McAnally achieved a milestone, too, when Great Treasure ended the Hall of Fame trainer's 25-day wait for his 1,500th winner. McAnally wasn't actually at the track, but you can be sure he'll be there the next two days.

McAnally will saddle a pair of stakes favorites: Antespend in today's $125,000 Honeymoon Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf, and Eclipse Award winner Northern Spur in Monday's $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap.

Today's 1 p.m. card will include the simulcast of Belmont's Peter Pan, which beaten Kentucky Derby favorite Unbridled's Song will use as a prep for the Belmont Stakes.