Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • Page 17

Classified ads C-5 Horoscope C-7 Comics C-4 Section Green Bay Press-Gazette Saturday, May 2, 1987 There no safe Dim mm perby The field for Saturday's 113th Kentucky Derby. Number indicates post position: By Steve Woodword Gannett News Service LOUISVILLE, Ky. There are no fewer than nine starters in Saturday's Kentucky Derby who have credentials to close the book on this wide-open Brawl for the Blanket. The blanket, of course, is covered with the roses signifying triumph in the 113th Derby at Churchill Downs, where budding three-year-olds have been running a mile and a quarter for the Triple Crown's first jewel since 1875. There is no consensus on who will win, but trainers and veteran observers agree on one thing: This is the most unpredictable Derby in years.

"We've had an ever-changing situation," said trainer Leroy Jolley, who has won two Derbys (Foolish Pleasure, 1975; Genuine Risk, '80) and saddles the entry of Gulch and Leo Castelli this time. "With the exception of Demons Begone (the early 5-2 favorite), there is no horse who has dominated. "The top six or seven are close in ability. It'll just be a case of whether they like the track, all of those little variables." One such variable bad luck nearly removed Demons Begone from contention early Friday morning. During a one-mile gallop, the colt who is unbeaten as a three-year-old barely avoided a head-on collision with an unidentified horse.

olds by skipping more traditional prep races in Florida, California and New York. "He didn't come up against any real proven stakes horses, so you always have that doubt in the back of your mind," Hauswald said. "But he won his races so easily and with such authority, and he had already proven himself as a two-year-old that could hold his own against the best in the country." The Derby, which will attract more than 100,000 spectators in all modes of dress, has 17 starters. Post time is 4:33 p.m. The total purse is $793,600, with $618,600 to the winner, $100,000 for second.

$50,000 for third and $25,000 for fourth. Spectacular Bid, in 1979, was the last Derby favorite to reach the winner's circle. The handlers of at least eight others who will go postward Saturday believe Demons Begone could become the eighth consecutive beaten Derby favorite. One of them is two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

He has led the nation in earnings four consecutive years surpassing $12.3 million with 64 stakes winners in 1986 but Lukas never has quenched his thirst for a Derby winner. This year, Lukas will have a three-pronged attack with the entry of Capote, On The Line and War. That coupling is rated no better than the fifth betting choice at 8-1 in the early line. Please see DerbyC-5 "The top six or seven are close in ability. It'll just be a case of whether they like the track, all of those little variables." Trainer Leroy Jolley The wayward horse was running along the inside rail in the wrong direction, and "he didn't miss him three feet," said Phil Hauswald, trainer of the Demons Begone.

"It was too damn close for comfort, I'll tell you that." That incident is the only flaw in Demons Be-gone's otherwise uncluttered road to the Derby. The colt, a son of 1976 Preakness Stakes winner Elocutionist, did all of his Derby prepping at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, winning the Southwest Stakes, Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby by an average of five lengths. Demons Begone will try to become only the second three-year-old to win the classic at Churchill coming off a victory in the Arkansas Derby. Owner John Ed Anthony would also earn a $1 million bonus. Oaklawn Park offers that bonus to any horse winning the Rebel Stakes, Arkansas and Kentucky derbys.

Hauswald, 29, who grew up near Churchill in New Albany, disputes those who say Demons Begone dodged the nation's top three-year- Horse Jockey Odds-: 1. Cryptoclearance Santos 5-1 2. War McCauley 6-1 3. Alysheba McCarron 7-1 4. Templar Hill Hutton 20-1 5.

Capote Cordero 6-1 6. Gulch Shoemaker 9-2 7. Masterful Advocate Pincay 9-1 8. Leo Castelli Vasquez 9-2 9. On the Line Stevens 6-1 10.

Demons Begone Day 2-1 1 1 Momentus Brumfield 20-1 12. Candi's Gold Hawley 30-1 13. ShawklitWon Migliore 40-1 14. Bet Twice Perret 11-1 15. Conquistarose Bailey 35-1 16.

Avies Copy Solomone 20-1 17. No More Flowers Guerra 45-1 Hobbins comes home for tryoui 76erswin as Erving prolongs his career By Bob McGinn Of the Press-Gazette Jim Hobbins will try to become the first Green Bay athlete to play for the Green Bay Packers since 1974. Hobbins, a 6-foot-6, 272-pound tackle from the University of Minnesota, signed a contract and checked in Friday night for the start of the Packers' weekend minicamp. Born and raised in Green Bay, Hobbins made second team all-state as a tackle for Green Bay Preble High School in 1981. The Packers contacted Hobbins late in Tuesday's draft, establishing their interest in him as a free agent.

When Hobbins wasn't selected, he found himself involved in the National Football League's annual free-agent signing scramble. The Washington Redskins offered him a plane ticket to visit their facility, so Hobbins flew in Wednesday morning and met with the team's coaches and officials. Meantime, the Packers and the New York Jets also offered him contracts. After consideration discussion, Hobbins made his decision in conjunction with friends and his agent, Mark Finn of Minneapolis. "I just thought, from the indi- "I always wanted a chance to play for the Packers." Jim Hobbins cations I had, I'd have a better chance of making the team here," Hobbins said.

"I triediot to let my hometown affect my decision but, of course, having lived in Green Bay, it was; always on my mind. I always wanted a chance to play forlthe Packers." Hobbins said he received a signing bonus and a one-year plus option contract. The Packers haven't had a Green Bay native play in one of their regular-season games since quarterback Jerry Tagge and defensive back Dave Mason in 1974. They played at Green Bay West and the University of Nebraska. Hobbins was a three-year regular at right tackle for Minnesota, a position the Packers seem to regard as the most unsettled on their offensive line.

For Hobbins to have a chance, he will have to adjust quickly to prostyle pass protection, which Minnesota didn't employ. PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Philadelphia 76ers' season will last at least one more game. So will Julius Erving's pro basketball career. Erving and Charles Barkley helped rally the 76ers from a 17-point second-period deficit Friday night as Philadelphia evened its first-round NBA playoff series with a 124-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The two teams play the fifth and deciding game of the best-of-five series Sunday in Milwaukee.

The winner advances to the second round against the Boston Celtics. Barkley had 12 of his 25 points and Erving, who will retire after the playoffs, had 10 of his 22 in the fourth quarter to keep the 76ers ahead after they overcame the deficit. The Bucks led by 17 three times in the second period, the last at 43-26 with 7:27 left in the half. But the 76ers, led by 12 points from rookie David Wingate, whittled the deficit to 57-52 by halftime. Philadelphia Coach Matt Guo-kas said Milwaukee's hot shooting gave his team problems at the start.

"It wasn't that defense was so poor as much as they were knocking down every jumper," he said. "Our guys really were ready to play mentally, maybe too ready, and tight on offense. We were sputtering." AP LaserPhoto Across the wrist: Milwaukee Bucks guard Philadelphia's Maurice Cheeks. The 76ers John Lucas, right, tries to block a drive by won 124-118 on Friday night. Milwaukee Coach Don Nelson other Bucks had four personals.

straight points to take their last said his team played great defense The 76ers tied the score at 67 lead at 78-77 before Maurice in building its 17-point lead. with 7:25 left in the third quarter Cheeks made ajump shot with 1:11 "But they just started taking the and built a seven-point lead twice, left in the period, sending Philadel- ball to the basket," Nelson said, the last at 77-70 with 3:44 to play phia ahead to stay. The 76ers led "And we got in foul trouble." in the quarter. Paul Pressey fouled out and four But the Bucks scored eight Please see BuckSC-5 Without contract, no Wright in camp Wandering free agents return home i Associated Press Tim Raines, the 1986 National League batting champion, became the first of baseball's premier free agents to return to his former club Friday, and before the day was over Rich Gedman, Bob Boone and Ron Guidry followed. Raines rejoined the Montreal Expos, Gedman came to terms with the Boston Red Sox, and Boone went back to the California Angels.

Five top-ranked free agents have been out of work this season after failing to find jobs with other teams. Baseball's collective bargaining regulations barred any free agent from even negotiating with the clubs they left between Jan. 8 and May 1. Raines and the Montreal Expos wasted little time once May began. Three hours after midnight, they reached agreement on a three-year contract reportedly worth $4.8 million.

No terms were announced on Gedman 's deal with the Red Sox, but before negotiations began, Red Sox General Manager Lou Gorman said the club's" old deal still was on the table three years for a reported $2.65 million plus incentives. Guidry and the Yankees were only $50,000 apart on a two-year contract when their talks ended in early January and the 36-year-old left-hander became a free agent. Guidry wanted $850,000 a year and the Yankees offered $825,000. Although Guidry slipped to a 9-12 record and 3.98 ERA in 1986, the 11-year veteran's career mark is 163-80. Last year, Guidry was paid $975,000.

The terms of Boone's contract were not revealed, but it was believed to be for the remainder of the 1987 season at a figure much less than the $883,000 the Angels St i ff By Bob McGinn Of the Press-Gazette Fourth-stringer Joe Shield and rookie Don Majkowski will throw the passes at the Green Bay Packers' minicamp this weekend while Randy Wright sits at home only a few miles from Lambeau Field. Wright, the established starting quarterback who learned a lot last year but still has a lot to learn, has been a free agent since Feb. 1 when his original three-year contract expired. Until last year, the Packers allowed veteran free agents to attend minicamps. Some veterans chose to attend meetings but wouldn't practice for fear of injury.

Coach Forrest Gregg decided he didn't need that situation and implemented the no-contract, no-minicamp rule. This minicamp, the Packers' only one this year, isn't for all veterans. It is designed primarily for a first look at draft choices and an evaluation of assorted free agents. Eighteen veterans from last year's team, mostly first and second-year players, were included on a 52-man roster released by the Packers. The Packers still were signing free agents late in the day Friday, and the roster should swell for today's 9 a.m.

physical testing at the team's field house. Generally, a fourth-year quarterback such as Wright would be invited to improve his game and to lend some cohesiveness to workouts. Tom Braatz, the Packers' director of football operations, didn't get on the job until late February. Braatz's top priority was the draft, so his duties as contract negotiator have had to wait. "I've called twice and talked to his agent," said Braatz.

"We talked basic parameters. His contract probably is one of the priorities for veterans." Rick Schaeffer of Washington, D.C., the agent for Wright, says his Ron Guidry Returns to Yankees offered the catcher last winter. Boone, 39, will begin a conditioning assignment Friday night at Palm Springs, with the Angels' minor league affiliate in the Class A California League. Raines, who hit .334 last year, reportedly has been keeping himself in shape and could begin play this weekend. "When Tim Raines gets to New York, we'll stick him in the lineup right away," Montreal Maanager Buck Rodgers said.

Raines was expected to play today. Club spokesman Rich Griffin said details of Raines' contract were worked out about 3 a.m. Friday at Sarasota, among club vice president Bill Stoneman, chief executive officer John McHale and Bill Landman, representing Raines. Earlier, the left-handed hitting Gedman had rejected the three-year offer from the Red Sox and talked with the Houston Astros and the Oakland A's, but he was not offered similar amounts. He wanted $3.9 million over three years.

Last year, Gedman was paid $650,000 by the American League champions. Another free agent, pitcher Doyle Alexander, met for about three hours with his club, the Atlanta Braves. Alexander, 36, went the free agent route when he declined to sign a two-year contract for $950,000 per year. He was unable to reach an agreement with any other major league team. Alexander originally sought $1.4 per year for two years of a guaranteed contract.

The Braves latest offer is believed to be about $650,000 for one year guaranteed, with an option for a second year. Brewers outlast Mariners Joe Shield A minicamp quarterback Packers notebook client is anxious for negotiations to begin. Schaeffer says he is awaiting the Packers' first offer. "I feel the sooner we get him in there the better off it will be for everybody," Schaeffer said. "Randy wants to be a part of the team as soon as passible." The first on-field practice is at 3 p.m.

today. Sunday's schedule includes workouts at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., followed by a practice Monday at 9:45 a.m. Gregg discontinued the minicamp for veterans at the end of the month this year in exchange for an ongoing veterans' workout program at club facilities. About 20 veterans have been working out on a near daily basis since mid-April, and Gregg expects the number to increase soon.

"The reason we're not having a minicamp is I'd rather have them for two weeks than for three days," i Please see three runs in the eighth when he hit a two-run homer, driving in Juan Castillo. After B.J. Surhoff singled, Castillo bunted into a fielder's choice and then stole second before Gantner hit his second home run of the year. Reliever Dan Plesac came in with two outs in the eighth and started shakily giving up a single to Phil Bradley and a walk to pinch hitter John Chris-tensen to load the bases before striking out pinch hitter Rick Renteria. Plesac also struggled in the ninth, giving up singles to Akin Davis and Rey Quinones before getting Harold Reynolds to pop out to Castillo to end the game.

Press-Gazette SEATTLE Jim Gantner led the Milwaukee Brewers to a see-saw 10-8 win over the Seattle Mariners Friday night as he hit two singles, a double and a two-run homer in four trips to the plate. Gantner, who had seven RBIs coming into the game, added five to that total. The Brewers held a 7-4 lead when Seattle scored three in the sixth inning to tie the game. Milwaukee edged ahead 8-7 with a solo run in the seventh inning before taking the lead for good in the eighth. Gantner put Milwaukee up by s-i X' a.v tf Tim Raines Back in Montreal.