CAN '97'S TOP HORSE TURN TRICK ON GRASS?

Byline: Ed Schuyler Jr. Associated Press 

Trainer Bill Mott, who switched Cigar from grass to dirt, where he won 16 straight races, is convinced Favorite Trick, unbeaten in eight starts on dirt last year, belongs on the grass.

So, that's where the 1997 Horse of the Year as a 2-year-old will be Saturday when he races in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.

Lineups were announced Wednesday for the seven-race program, which includes the Breeders' Cup Classic, whose purse will be a record $5.12 million if supplemental entries Silver Charm and Gentlemen both start.

Mott has been working Favorite Trick on the turf since mid-July and said that ``he took right to it and he's a happy horse. Win, lose or draw, I think it was the right move.''

Should Favorite Trick spring an upset in the Mile, he would become the first horse to win different Breeders' Cup races. Last year, he won the $1 million Juvenile at Hollywood Park.

While Favorite Trick has breezed on the grass for some time, he has raced on it only once, scoring a wire-to-wire victory in the Oct. 17 Keeneland Breeders' Cup Mile.

``It took most of the year to decide what he does best,'' Mott said Wednesday.

Mott took over the training of Favorite Trick in January, succeeding Pat Byrne, who became a private trainer for Canadian industrialist Frank Stronach.

It's been an up-and-down year for the gritty little colt, who opened his 3-year-old campaign by winning the 7-furlong Swale at Gulfstream Park. He then finished second in the 1-1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, giving up the lead in the stretch, and was eighth in the 1-1/4-mile Kentucky Derby.

Between the Derby and his successful debut on grass, Favorite Trick won the 1 1/16-mile Long Branch at Monmouth Park and the 1-1/8-mile Jim Dandy in an especially courageous performance at Saratoga, where he also finished third in the 7-furlong King's Bishop.

``I don't think he was cut out to be the same horse as a 3-year-old as he was as a 2-year-old,'' Mott said. ``He couldn't handle the top 3-year-olds at a mile and a quarter, and 1-1/8 miles was not his best distance. Hopefully, the grass will bring out his best to where he can handle the very best or at least compete with them.''

The son of Phone Trick, owned by Joseph LaCombe, will have his work cut out for him in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Among his rivals in the 14-horse field are Desert Prince, winner of Group I stakes in France and England in his last two starts; Labeeb, winner of the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile at Hollywood Park and the Woodbine Mile in his last two starts, and Among Men, winner of the one-mile Sussex Stakes in England.

In the Classic, meanwhile, Southern California-based Silver Charm and Gentlemen were among nine horses entered to face defending champion Skip Away, the leading candidate for the Horse of the Year title.

Gentlemen had also been pre-entered in the Mile, and under Breeders' Cup nominating rules, owner R.D. Hubbard had to choose whether to put up $200,000 to enter the Mile or $800,000 to enter the Classic. His decision was revealed Wednesday.

Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia made Silver Charm the 8-5 early favorite and put Skip Away at 9-5. He reasoned that Silver Charm won the Derby on the Churchill Downs track while Skip Away's only race at the track was a 12th-place finish in the 1996 Derby.

Skip Away can become the first $10 million earner in racing history by finishing third or better in the Classic. His earnings of $9,616,000 trail only Cigar's $9,999,815.

Silver Charm is one of three Southern California-based horses to be favored in the Breeders' Cup races. The others are Labeeb (4-1) in the Mile and Silverbulletday (8-5) in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies.

Notes: Skip Away, Gentlemen and defending Breeders' Cup Turf champion Chief Bearhart were among 19 horses in a Churchill Downs barn that was hit by airplane debris early Wednesday morning, upsetting the horses but causing no injuries, track officials said. A United Parcel Service 747 struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff from Louisville International, damaging an engine and causing the plane to return to the airport. . . . Jockey Gary Stevens, whose $12.5 million in purses ranked third to Jerry Bailey's $15.2 million and Pat Day's $12.9 million in 1998 figures through Monday, has a chance to move up. Stevens rides Breeders' Cup favorites Silver Charm, Royal Anthem (in the $2 million Turf) and Affirmed Success (in the $1 million Sprint). Stevens, Bailey, Day and Kent Desormeaux ride in all seven races.

A Daily News staff writer contributed to this story.

BREEDERS' CUP LINEUP

The horses, listed in post-position order with jockeys and predicted odds, entered Wednesday morning for the Breeders' Cup races Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. First post time is 10:25 a.m. PST.

FIRST RACE

2-year-old colts and geldings, 1 1/16 miles, $1 million purse. Each horse carries 122 pounds.

1. Prime Directive, Chavez 30-1

2. Red Sea, Desormeaux 12-1

3. Lemon Drop Kid, Valazquez 6-1

4. a-Yes It's True, Stevens 9-2

5. Answer Lively, Bailey 4-1

6. The Groom Is Red, Nakatani 7-2

7. Noteasybeingreen, Gryder 30-1

8. b-Cat Thief, Day 3-1

9. Buck Trout, Delahoussaye 15-1

10. a-Time Bandit, Kinane 9-2

11. Daring General, Solis 12-1

12. b-Tactical Cat, Borel 3-1

13. b-Mountain Range, Sellers 3-1

14. Aly's Alley, Prado 30-1

a-Padua Stables-owned entry; b-Overbrook Farm-owned entry.

SECOND RACE

JUVENILE FILLIES: 2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles, $1 million purse. Each horse carries 119 pounds.

1. Extended Applause, Sellers 10-1

2. Three Ring, Velazquez 15-1

3. Unbridled Delight, Borel 50-1

4. Bag Lady Jane, Day 15-1

5. Antahkarana, McCarron 6-1

6. Silverbulletday, Stevens 8-5

7. Excellent Meeting, Desormeaux 3-1

8. Grand Deed, Santos 30-1

9. Rayelle, Ramsammy15-1

10. Confessional, Bailey 6-1

11. Emanating, Nakatani 15-1

THIRD RACE

SPRINT: 3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs, $1 million purse. Each horse carries 126 pounds, except for 3-year-olds Reraise and Grand Slam (124) and females A.P. Assay, Furlough and J J'sdream (123).

1. Wild Rush, Day3-1

2. J J'sdream, Velazquez 50-1

3. Reraise, Nakatani 5-1

4. Partner's Hero, Borel 15-1

5. Rare Rock, Bailey 30-1

6. A.P. Assay, Delahoussaye 15-1

7. The Exeter Man, Flores 15-1

8. Kona Gold, Solis 20-1

9. Affirmed Success, Chavez 2-1

10. Gold Land, Desormeaux 8-1

11. Richter Scale, Sellers 30-1

12. Bolshoi, Fallan 30-1

13. Furlough, McCarron 30-1

14. Grand Slam, Stevens 12-1

Note: Reraise is a $120,000 supplemental entry.

FOURTH RACE

MILE: 3-year-olds and up, 1 mile on turf, $1 million purse. Each horse carries 126 pounds, except for 3-year-olds Desert Prince, Favorite Trick and Second Empire (123).

1. a-Cape Cross, Bailey 10-1

2. Da Hoss, Velazquez 6-1

3. Favorite Trick, Day 5-1

4. b-Among Men, Stevens 20-1

5. Desert Prince, Peslier 9-2

6. Waky Nao, Starke 20-1

7. b-Second Empire, Kinane 20-1

8. Military, Nakatani 10-1

9. Joyeux Danseur, Albarado 5-1

10. a-Fly To The Stars, Dettori 10-1

11. Hawksley Hill, Solis 10-1

12. Mr Lightfoot, McCarron 20-1

13. Labeeb, Desormeaux 4-1

14. Magellan, Delahoussaye 20-1

a-Godolphin Racing-owned entry; b-Michael Tabor & Mrs. J. Magnier-owned entry.

FIFTH RACE

DISTAFF: Fillies and mares 3 and up, 1-1/8 miles, $2 million purse. Each horse carries 123 pounds, except for 3-year-olds Banshee Breeze, Keeper Hill, Kirby's Song and Tap to Music (120).

1. Kirby's S7ong, Kabel 30-1

2. Dancing Gulch, Martinez 50-1

3. Tuxedo Junction, Desormeaux 50-1

4. Banshee Breeze, Bailey 6-5

5. Keeper Hill, McCarron 7-2

6. Tap to Music, Day 8-1

7. Escena, Stevens 2-1

8. Tomisue's Delight, Sellers 8-1

SIXTH RACE

TURF: 3-year-olds and up, 1-1/2 miles on turf, $2 million purse. Each horse carries 126 pounds, except for 3-year-old filly Leggera (119) and 3-year-old colts Royal Anthem, Sunshine Street and Frapper Le Or (122).

1. Caitano, Starke 20-1

2. Buck's Boy, Sellers 5-1

3. Cetewayo, Velazquez 8-1

4. Daylami, Dettori 5-1

5. Bonapartiste, McCarron 12-1

6. Insatiable, Peslier 12-1

7. Leggera, Bailey 12-1

8. Royal Anthem, Stevens 3-1

9. Chief Bearhart, Santos 6-1

10. River Bay, Day 12-1

11. Sunshine Street, Murtagh 50-1

12. Dushyantor, Desormeaux 15-1

13. Frapper Le Or, Quinones 99-1

14. Yagli, Nakatani 15-1

SEVENTH RACE

CLASSIC: 3-year-olds and up, 1-1/4 miles, $4 million purse. Each horse carries 126 pounds, except for 3-year-olds Coronado's Quest and Victory Gallop (122).

1. Victory Gallop, Solis 15-1

2. Swain, Dettori 10-1

3. a-Awesome Again, Day 9-2

4. a-Coronado's Quest, Desormeaux 9-2

5. Arch, Sellers 15-1

6. Skip Away, Bailey 9-5

7. Running Stag, Velazquez 50-1

8. Silver Charm, Stevens 8-5

9. a-Touch Gold, McCarron 9-2

10. Gentlemen, Nakatani 6-1

a-Entry because Stronach and/or Stonerside Stable have ownership interest each. Note: Gentlemen is an $800,000 supplemental entry; Silver Charm is a $480,000 supplemental entry; purse actually will be $5.12 million if both start.

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: (Ran on Page 9) BREEDER`S CUP LINEUP (see text)