The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 418

CI 5A THURSDAY, JULY 30. 1992 SD LOS ANGELES TIMES San Diego County Black's Visit Home Short, Unproductive Black, 23, decided to continue riding on his own in Europe. He has established an end-of-the-year deadline to catch on with another stable. "I'm trying to make the most of it," he said. "You know what they say, adversity builds character." Black's character, then, has been undergoing reconstruction since he left the Southern California jockey colony in 1987.

He had written an impressive resume as an apprentice in 1986, when his purses totaled more than $3.7 million. But making the jump from apprentice to journeyman is difficult anywhere, and even more so in Southern California, where the country's most competitive jockeys congregate. The transition was made all the more difficult, Black said, because he wasn't getting enough mounts to maintain his progress. But Black, then 18, was given a way out. Andre Fabre, now the top European trainer, offered the youthful jockey a contract to ride in France.

Like his last, Black's first European tour lasted only a few months. Black was still learning his trade at that point, and Fabre decided he needed more experience. "I made some mistakes that time," Black said. "I was young and immature, and Fabre just didn't think I was ready for the job." It was back to Southern California for Black, who later tried to find his way in Kentucky and then in New York before returning home one more time. This past winter at Santa Anita Black had 198 mounts and 12 winners.

"I was doing well," Black said. Horse racing: Jockey who is trying to succeed in Europe rides once on opening day at Del Mar, then heads overseas. By JOHN GEIS TIMES STAFF WRITER DEL MAR While all the other jockeys were being greeted to opening day at Del Mar's 53rd summer season on Wednesday, Corey Black was hearing farewells. His season at Del Mar this year consisted of one race, a forgettable one at that. Black, a native of Southern California, was back home only for a brief respite.

He'll return to Europe shortly where he will continue free-lancing the continent, picking up mounts wherever he can. Black was able to take a lone journey around the Del Mar oval only because he had to return here to re-establish his visa. And while he plans to immediately fly back to he Old World, Black, the leading apprentice at all five Southern California meets in 1986, is not having an easy go of it. This past spring, Black accepted a one -year contract to ride for the Cricket Head Family in England. But he was fired after only three months, "I guess they wanted a miracle worker instead of a jockey," Black said, obviously annoyed with the turn of events.

"They said I didn't adapt fast enough, but that stable Isn't what it used to be. It's having its problems, and I think they were just looking for a scapegoat." After the abrupt dismissal, takes the lead from Worthy Rolfe. An infraction occurred, but not Although Black was familiar with the 3-year-old and with Del Mar, the combination did not click. River Majesty, a 3-1 favorite, faded to fourth over the one-mile turf course. "I thought he'd run a lot better than that," Black said.

"But he was MINOR LEAGUE NOTEBOOK JIM LINDGREN Archer Finds Bull's-Eye for Brewers' Farm Team DISTEL Continued from CI pompous than you originally intended. To you, as I understand it, 'the place was as much a card room and cabaret as a race track. You had races with parties attached, or maybe it was vice versa. In that sense, it was not much different Wednesday wheri Del Mar opened its 53rd season. You had beach parties in front of the beer parties in the clubhouse and tea parties in the Turf Club.

The place is one gigantic 19th hole, if you know what I mean. The Turf Club might be a bit stuffier than you remembered. The men walking in there looked as stiff as department store mannequins, and the women looked as if they were on their way to a garden party in Bel Air. I'd pass on a Pick Six payoff just to get the cosmetic concession in that place. You liked things a little looser and more carefree.

It would be hard to imagine a millionaire legend who had fewer airs about him than you did. All you really needed was a smile, a song and maybe an easy dogleg. Your little track is doing its darndest to maintain a Crosby que feeling about it. Maintaining a quaint feel isn't easy in 1992 if you're not talking a cabin 500 miles northwest of Anchorage. As a matter of fact, the thoroughbred club and the fairgrounds are spending $80 million to fend off the cookie-cutter modernization that permeates the hillsides looking down on the backstretch.

It costs a lot of money to keep things rr7 7 In the third race, Tell Boy (4) "But I decided to go back to Europe. I just decided to take what I thought was a good job with the Head stables). It just didn't work out." Black's last race in Europe came June 22 in France when he took Talking Please to a fourth-place Horses in the first race run past Del As interesting as the mix of sweaty writers and bejeweled socialites is the presence of both the old and the new in terms of seating. The new grandstand halts rather abruptly, as though its eastern end was shorn by an earthquake or maybe hit by an iceberg. It just stops, girders and concrete jagged and bare.

It looks like one of those partially completed buildings on the road from Rosarito Beach to Ensenada. You'd find the Turf Club and clubhouse areas quite familiar. These are the way they were, single-decked with the old roof reminiscent of a minor league baseball park somewhere in Iowa. You see the old and the new be called to the witness stand next week at the Freeman McNeil trial in Minneapolis. Beathard will be a witness for the NFL in the case against McNeil.

Joe Browne, vice president of communications for the NFL, said in his news release that the NFL's chances of victory are greater than is being portrayed be the media. "There have been several media predictions of a verdict against the league since the trial began," Browne wrote. "However, similar predictions were offered at the midway point of the USFL trial in 1986, and you can ask Donald Trump who won that suit. The NFL lawyers are anxious to present their case." Receiver Shawn Jefferson worked out for the first time since he strained his hamstring Monday, but not at full speed. Jefferson will leave this morning for the funeral of his brother on Saturday.

He is expected back at practice Sunday. "I really wanted to be here for that sprimmaire Saturday." he said. BOBGRIESER Los Angeles Times enough to change the results. a just little bit lost with the pace." As quickly as Black was out of the race, he was out of the jockeys' room, this time racing past the other jockeys and out the door. "Good luck, Corey," they shouted as Black headed to his car.

"Good luck." got into a rhythm." In the off-season, Archer received rehabilitation treatment at the Alvarado Sports Medicine Center, and his statistics reflect that he is once again healthy. Including earning his 11th save with a perfect ninth inning Tuesday night, Archer leads the Stockton Ports with a 9-3 record and 1.98 ERA. and the Ports are in first place in the California League. "He's one of our two closers, and they're both doing exceptionally well," said Dave Brady, the Ports' radio announcer and media relations director. "We're surprised they're both here actually.

I thought they'd both be promoted by now." Said Archer: "We're having a good year, and I'm having a good year. I have no complaints." Rookie roll call: Nearly two months have passed since the amateur draft on June 1-3. Here's a look at some of this year's rookies from area colleges. Unless noted, these are Class-A teams. Good Outfielder Derek Vinyard (SDSU) is hitting .329 with 12 stolen bases in 25 games for Winter Haven (Fla.) in the Boston Red Sox chain.

Outfielder Brad Gennaro (SDSU) is at .274 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 37 games for the Padres' team at Charleston, S.C. Pitcher Rick Navarro (SDSU) is 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 35 innings at Niagara Falls (N.Y.) in the Detroit Tigers' organization. Pitcher Gerald Stafford (SDSU) is 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 16V4 innings for the Florida Marlins' team at Erie, Pa. Lukewarm: Catcher Marcelino Garcia (SDSU) has a .266 average and eight RBIs but only two extra-base hits in 20 games for the Padres' team in Spokane, Wash. Pitcher Mark Ratekin (Point Loma Nazarene) is 2-3 with a 4.14 ERA after 63 innings for the Quad City (Iowa) Angels.

Struggling: Catcher Sean Gousha (University of San Diego) has only four hits in 29 at-bats (.138) for the Erie Marlins. Catcher Paul Stojsavljevic (Southwestern College) is five for his first 32 (.156) for Huntington (W.Va.), a Chicago Cubs' rookie-level team. Infielder Mike Farrell Gross -mont College) is at .233 after 60 at-bats and 14 hits for the New York Mets' rookie team in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Pitcher Brent Hansen UC San Diego) is 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA after 15W innings for the Red Sox team in Elmira.

N.Y. finish behind winner River Majesty over a mile, two horses that were entered in the Oceanside Stakes on Del Mar's opening-day card. Representatives of the Bruce McNall- and Wayne Gretzky-owned River Majesty placed Black on their horse for the eighth race. B08CRESER Los Angeles Times Mar's newly rebuilt grandstand. together and what you do is you appreciate both.

The old is so simple and so casual and it has been so nice for so long. However, the new has been designed with taste and charm I am sure you would applaud. Now, Bing, a couple of things never change. I lose. I cashed one ticket, Calypsonian in the first.

The tote board said he paid $177 to win, but I guess that must have been an opening day glitch. He went off at 5-2. And they played your song. Yes, the surf still meets the turf at a very nice place. All it took was $80 million to make it the same, only better.

"I had been doing so well. I didn't want to get out of the groove." Free agent defensive end Blaise Winter (cut above the eye) and Donnie Elder (bruised knee) did not practice. Ross said Elder is questionable for Saturday's scrimmage against the Rams. Ross has pronounoed the George Thornton weight problem over at least for now. "His weight is no longer an issue," Ross said.

"He's doing well. He'll be right where he needs to be by the time he starts the exhibition season." Ross said Thornton is currently the starter at one of the two interior defensive line positions. "He's done very well," Ross said. "He's had a good camp." Ross said he is pleased with the weight gain of defensive end Burt Grossman, who has put on some 30 pounds since last season. "He's able to get a lot more push," Ross said.

"He's able to take the offensive lineman and drive him back a little bit better with no simple these days. Phase One of this project opened with opening day Wednesday. They couldn't get it all done at once so they rebuilt the grandstand first. This was a nice sense of priority, taking care of the $2 bettor first. After all, these people really built the place, right? The grandstand is nice, six sto-ries high but broken up by enough balconies to keep it from looking like a monolith.

Some of the balconies are large enough for one of Elizabeth Taylor's wedding receptions and a couple are so small and private that Juliet would be comfortable awaiting her Romeo. Rather than give the place the look of one of the so-called modern-day stadiums, the facility was built to fit the motif of California missions. You can't look like an equestrian Riverfront Stadium if Father Serra is the lead architect, so to speak. I should whisper this next revelation because it flies in the face of what I have been saying, but you should know that they have put sky boxes under the roof on the sixth level. I guess nothing can be built without the darned things these days.

One of these days, we'll come upon a McDonalds with sky boxes. What you get, thus, on the sixth level is a mixture of media types with their sleeves rolled up and waiters with dinner jackets serving socialites with bonnets out of Rodeo Drive. I saw so many fancy hats I kept expecting to step out of the press box and trip over the Easter bunny. I'm not used to looking to my left as I write and seeing linen tablecloths and bouquets. pleased with free agent receiver Walter Stanley.

"He continues to impress," Ross said. "He's caught ball after ball in traffic. He made a big catch in the middle at least eight times, including three Wednesday night)." So would Stanley be the early leader for the fourth wide receiver spot? "It's way to early to tell, but he has done some good things," Ross said. Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard said he has spoken to a few teams about holdout nose tackle Joe Phillips, but there has been little interest. Beathard said he will call every team in the NFL about Phillips except clubs in the Chargers' division.

Beathard said he will not give Phillips away for nothing. "If we don't sign him, he'd sit out the season," he said. "If we trade him we're going to make it worthwhile for us." The NFL announced Beathard will Weighing his athletic possibilities beyond high school, former San Diego State pitcher Kurt Archer realized he didn't quite have the appetite for football that he had always had for baseball. It meant turning down a football scholarship to Washington State, but Archer chose baseball, and he is now one of the top pitching prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. His love of baseball and his distaste for gaining weight for football were the two biggest factors in his decision, he said.

"I always wanted to play baseball," Archer said. "I always enjoyed that much more than football. The full-ride was tough to turn down, but I couldn't see myself weighing 285 or 290 pounds. Even had I been able to gain that much, what would I have done with that weight later on in life?" An offensive and defensive lineman who helped Burlington Edison High School win the Washington state championship in 1987, Archer said it was a struggle to maintain even 245 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame. Washington State, then coached by Miami's Dennis Erickson, had plans for Archer to bulk up to at least 280 pounds.

"I think if I'd have made an all-out effort, I could have done that and been a decent college football player," said Archer, now 215 pounds. "I don't think I would have ever played professionally, but I probably could have made an impact at Washington State." Ironically, he added: "My build at that time was not conducive to baseball. But I enjoyed it more, so I went that way." Having turned down Washington Slate, Archer played baseball for one season each at Bellevue (Wash.) Community College and Lassen Community College in Su-sanville before being recruited by San Diego State Coach Jim Dietz. For the Aztecs in 1990, Archer shared the team's most valuable pitcher award with Andy Peterson by going 9-2 with two saves and a team-leading 2.42 earned-run average. SDSU eventually lost to Stanford in the final of the NCAA West I Regional that year.

Five days later, Archer was selected by the Brewers in the 10th round of the June amateur draft, and he went on to post a 5-0 mark with a 1.53 ERA during his first season at Class-A Beloit. After a promotion to Stockton, Archer, a right-hander, injured his pitching shoulder last year, and he wound up with a 2-4 mark, one save and 4.37 ERA. "I injured it during the third week, but it kept bothering me the whole season," Archer said. "It would feel fine at times, but after one or two appearances, it would flare up again. I was there the whole season, but I never really CHARGER NOTEBOOK DAVE McKIBBEN Friesz Showing Effects of Missed Practice Time SAN DIEGO Quarterback John Friesz might not have been the picture of sharpness Wednesday night at the University of San Diego, but at least he won't have to worry about Rod Bernstine taking his job.

On a halfback option pass, Bernstine threw a wobbler that hung up for what seemed like a minute before finally coming down in the arms of cornerback Sean Van-horse. "That was like a wounded duck," Ross said. "He can throw (hat thing. He's usually the one that throws that option pass the pest. How embarrassing.

That's pie way I used to throw as a Quarterback in college." Ross said Friesz will get the majority of work with the first unit during Saturday's scrimmage the Rams at UC San Diego. "He needs to sharpen up," Ross said. "His reads are a little slow. The missed time shows. I'm not worried about it.

It's not a problem. He's got to be more consistent." Rois once again was especially.