The Miami News from Miami, Florida • 16

WI. 48 The Miami News Saturday, February 21, 1987, i Art Grace Horse racing' es his mind a out Cr me Fraiche Stephens chain Trainer Woody Stephens was away from his barn at 9 a.m. yesterday, occupied with his normal Friday morning task entering a horse for the Sunday stakes race at Hi. aleah. (On Wednesdays.

he must make time to enter a runner for the Saturday stakes.) Invariably, the horses Ste- phens enters in stakes are either the favorite or at least the horse to beat. Last weekend, Stephens sent out the favorite in Saturday's Widener (Creme Fraiche, who finished second), the favor- Grace ite in Sunday's Citation Stakes (Conquistarose, who finished second) and the second choice in Monday's Poinciana Handicap (I'm Sweets, who won). This weekend Stephens will, surprisingly, come right back with Creme Fraiche in today's $200,000 Hialeah Turf Cup at a mile and a half on the grass. Tomorrow, to no one's surprise, Stephens will saddle Lotka in the S130.000-added Hialeah Budweiser View, Small Virtue, Scoot. Perfect Point and Lead Kindly Light.

Only eight will start in the Turf Cup with Flying Pidgeon and Theatrical co-favorites followed by Creme Fraiche, Akabir, Long Mick, Pil New Colony and Duluth. Creme Fraiche had failed to win in five starts on grass until he won the 1-mile McKnight Handicap at Calder Jan. 7. After that victory Stephens said he would not start the horse again until the Widener, 5 weeks later, "because the longer I give him between races the better he But now Creme Fraiche is running on successive Saturdays. Why? "A lot of reasons," Stephens said.

"The pace was so slow last Saturday (the half in the Widener was :50 15) he didn't get to do much running didn't take much out of him. "He's weighted right (118 pounds) he's more mature now he's only run twice all winter. And it looks like more rain; he moves way up on a soft course. I never thought I'd run him this close. but if Breeders' Cup at a mile and an eighth on the grass.

What's in a name? Budwesier puts up $100,000 of the total purse, Hialeah 830,000. Stephens feels Creme Fraiche has an excellent chance and that Lotka has a better one. "She worked (a half mile yesterday) in :47, and she did it real nice," Stephens said when he returned to Barn M. "When she works good, she runs good." Lotka works good a lot. She has won half of her 18 starts, good for 8590,146.

She is two for three on grass, winning the Sabin Stakes at Meadowlands and the Queen Elizabeth at Keene land. Her only defeat on grass was at Calder Dec.20 in a 817,000 allowance prep following a two-month layoff. "She needed that one," Stephens said. "1 was just getting her ready for the La Prevoyante." The La Pre. voyante.

for 8200,000, was switched from the grass to the main course but Lotka won going away. She will be the highweight at 122 and a strong fa. vorite tomorrow in a field of 10 which includes Bonne Ile, Chaldea, So Iva, Anka Germania, Glorious were ever going to try It, now's the time to take the chance. "If he runs bad we won't do it again. I expect there'll be a more honest pace this time, with Duluth, In there." While Creme Fraiche has won only once on grass (and 11 times on dirt with earnings of $2.4 million) Flying Pidgeon has won nine.

Creme Fraiche was all out to hold him off by a neck in the McKnight. Creme Fraiche comes from far back; Flying Pidgeon comes from WAY back. Theatrical, an Irish horse, has been favored In four of his five starts in this country (all stakes) and closed 5-2 in his other U.S. race. He has won none of them, finishing second three times and third (beaten a neck) in his last four appearances.

Akabir won the Bougainvillea in his last start and was third, only half a length behind Creme Fraiche, in the McKnight. Long Mick is a solid closer, coming off a strong allowance victory; Duluth is the speed of the field; Pillaster has class but no penchant for winning he was one for nine last year. 1 it U-M, from 1B Seth Greenberg's scouting report FLORIDA (20-7 1 High school report In rl PRI tvertime doo' Miami Span Starting lineup No. Player u. Greenberg's comments Andrew Moten 6-0 Dominates at guard position Vernon Maxwell 6-4 Slashing scorer best in transition Dwayne Schintzius 7-2 Center of future excellent touch Chris Capers 6-6 SEC's leading percentage shooter Joe Lawrence 6-6 Only FG attempts will come from land of three TOM HUMESION hileml News Correspondent Coach: Norm Sloan 380 career wins.

He stands the test of time. Player to watch Me Jones The former Cisco Junior College standout is a valuable front court reserve for the Gators. This 6-foot-5 muscle man can score in the paint and rebound with authority. Look for coach Sloan to go to Jones early in an attempt to dominate the backboard. Strengths 1.

Moten and Maxwell. 2. Sloan will go 10 deep. 3. O'Connell-crazed tans give Gators a sixth man.

he's got really nice size and he runs like the wind. And he's a tough kid." A sub-plot to the game will be the matchup of the teams' two freshmen centers Miami's 7- foot-I Tito liorford and Florida's 7-2 Dwayne Schintzius. Both have been erratic this season, but both represent a big part of the future for their teams. Of the two, Schintzius has been struggling more lately. The word seems to be getting around that he's not a very physical player, and tears have been having success in knocking him around.

Said of tonight's matchup: ll've seen Tito a couple times on TV and I know he's capable of having a big night against us. If Dwayne isn't ready, which I think he will be, Tito will give him fits." This is the first of Miami's final three road games of the season, with Florida State and Notre Dame to follow. Since the two remaining home games against Coppin State and Brooklyn College look like victories, the Hurricanes need one upset on the road to finish with a winning record. "In a sense I'm glad we've got a finish like we've got." Foster said. "We've got three tough teams on the road out of the five games.

We pretty much know we're not going to any type of playoff unless there's a star in the East out there somewhere. So we finish against really tough people on the road. "We'll kinda find out where we are. There should be a lot of motivation in the off-season this year to come back and prove some things. Last year things went too good.

"And should we get lucky and pull out a win on the road against one of those teams, it'd be a big shot in the arm." Meanwhile, Florida probably will have one ear tonight on updates of the Auburn-Alabama game. An Auburn victory extends against Florida (207) tonight at the O'Connell Center, but victory still looks like an elusive butterfly. Fact is, to hear Foster talk about the Gators, you'd think Miami was facing a reincarnation of the Boston Celtics. "You're looking at four or five years of hard work finally paying off," he said. "They have outstanding guards, a big kid in the middle, good depth, they shoot the 3s well, they have speed, experience and they're at home." Hardly stopping to take a breath, Foster sized up Miami's upset chances tonight.

"We'll have to play probably better than we have at any time this season to win," he said. "We've got to have one of those nights we haven't had this year, where we really ring it for about 55 to 65 percent. Typically when you have upsets of the type we're talking about here. they come when you don't miss free throws, you knock down shots. "We'll have to shoot well to stay in the game.

We haven't done that well, but maybe we've saved it for them." Also, Foster has noticed Florida hasn't done so well when it's had trouble making its three-point shots. But another trend he's spot. ted doesn't figure to work to Miami's advantage tonight. Ile said the Gators have had trouble against teams with experienced guards Auburn, Tennessee and Ohio State for openers. Miami doesn't have particularly experienced guards, so the heat will be on Kevin Presto, Joel Warren and Mike Noblet to 1) get the ball up the floor and 2) defend against Florida's Boys Vernon Maxwell and Andrew Moten.

Maxwell is averaging 22.1 points, Mown 16.5. Said Foster of Maxwell: "All the NBA guys I've talked to have him rated among the top couple of guards in the country. lie's a driver, a shooter, a good board man, Summation To win on the road, you must play solid defense, stop the fast break and shoot well from the free throw line. To win in Gainesville, you must do all of the above and contain the most dynamic backcourt in the SEC. As our team matures, it must learn to compete on the road for the full 40 minutes.

If we are able to handle Florida's full-court pressure early, this game could go down to the wire. With five games remaining, our road success or failure will be the difference in having a winning season. Playing well in Gainesville will be the first test of the final weeks of the season. University of Miami assistant basketball coach Seth Greenberg scouts the Hurricanes upcoming opponents exclusively for The Miami News. 51.37 Lavonla McKoy scored 23 points to lead Central to a 61.41 victory over Hialeah.

The Vikings meet the Rockets today in the championship game at Norland. District 15-4A Mary Sarvis scored 24 points, Including a layup with three seconds left to give Miami High a 4847 victory over host Northwestern. Denise Patterson added 11 points for the Stingarees Tiffany Gardener and Patricia Mitchell each scored 12 points to lead Edison to a 59.23 victory over Miami Springs. District 18-4A Whiney Granger scored 20 points and LaShewn Fenn added 18 points as Southridge (28-1) defeated South Miami, 63-43. The Spartans' victory extended their winning streak to 21 games Pam Cordy scored 24 points and Sonia Crocker added 16 points and 14 assists to help Homestead defeat Killian 69-43.

District 11-3A Lynn MeConico scored 20 points as South Dade defeated St. Brendan, 45-32 Lourdes defeated Key West 57-41 as Christie Sanchez scored 39 points. District 11-2A Sue Zylstra scored 30 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Westminster Christian defeated Curley 61.38. Elizabeth Mahoney stored 11 points and Suzie Castro added 10 to lead Pace to a 35-33 victory over Gulliver. District 15-1A Lisa Fernandez scored 10 points to lead Miami Christian to a 37.32 victory over Dade Christian Stacie Woods scored 23 points to lead Northwest Christian to a 54-28 victory over Trinity Christian.

District 11-10 Violet Williams scored 16 points, including two tree-throws with 28 seconds remaining. to lead Florida Christian to a 23.20 victory ()Vet Westwood Christian The Patriots meet Princeton Christian. which defeated Loyola 44-33, in the championship game at Berkshire tonight. Baseball Palmetto S. Southridge 5: Todd Grande had three hits and tour RBI to lead the Pan.

theca (3-1) to I come-from-behind victory against the Spartans, who are ranked No. 2 in The News' coaches poll. Trailing 3-2 in the fifth inning, Grande drove In three runs with a bases-clearing triple. Columbus 13. St.

Brendan 0: Jerry Santos pitched a no-hitter and Eddie Cruz went 4- for-4 with four RBI to lead the Explorers (5-0). who are ranked No. 1 in the states Class 4A Pon. Corsi Perk 14, Miami High 12: Alex Ferran hit a grand slam home run with two outs in the ninth inning to lead the Rams. South laterni Coral Gables 2: George Rodriguez went 4.1or.4, including a two-run home run.

to lead the Cobras (2-2). South Dade Sunset 3: John Viols went 2.for.2 and had two RBI to lead the Buccaneers (4.1). Jeff Parker pitched seven innings, allowing only five hits, to earn the victory. Jackson 5, Northwestern 1: Robert Hutch. Ins hit a three-run home run to power the Generals (2-3).

ace 4, Fort Pierce Westwood Andy Diaz allowed only three hits and no earned runs. and Alex Fernandez had four Rai to lead the Spartans (2.0). Key West S. South Browerd 1: Kevin went end had three RBI to lead the Conchs (2.01. eise 12.

Curley Carlos Segredo had three RBI and Victor Lopez de Mendoza hurled a two-hitter to lead the Wolverines 11.2). Loyets 11, Gulliver 3: Enrique Garriga pitched a throe-hitter and Ronald Candid had three ABI to hied the Bulldogs (6.11. Softball Vivian Fliveron went and had seven RBI and Karla Mutuc had six RBI to lead Coral Park to a 24-0 victory over Miami High. Wrestling Region 6-10 semifinals 0.1"4:1"12 Chaerith011 Southndge had a score Cl 59 to lead the pack atter two rounds at Miami SPrings Coach Evelyn Bahn and her Miami Springs girls' soccer team had just suffered a heart-breaking 1-0 overtime defeat in the Section 4- 4A semifinal game, but were already looking forward to next season. The Golden Hawks had played their hearts out yesterday against Jupiter High at Seffner Armwood High near Tampa.

but it wasn't enough. Jupiter scored with five minutes remaining in the overtime period to end Miami Springs' season. "It was definitely a learning experience, and I don't see how it can harm us," said Bahn, who will have 12 of her 17 players return next season. "It was a real disappointing loss for us and our girls were very upset, but we'll get over it." The Golden Hawks' semifinal appearance was the farthest they had advanced since the program began. Miami Springs finished the season with a record of 12-3-1.

In other sports yesterday: Boys' soccer District 4-4A championship Killian 4, Hialeah-1016ml Lakes 1: Alex Sanchez scored lour goals and the defense held the Trotans Nell Covone and Henry Gutierrez In check as the Cougars avenged a Greater Miami Athletic Conference loss two weeks ago. After one half. the score stood at I-1, but then Sanchez scored On a breakaway with 11 minutes remaining In the second half to give Killian the lead. The Cougars never trailed, and improved their record to 21-2-1. District 4-3A championship Curley 2, Fort Lauderdale Western 1: Down 1-0 with three minutes remaining.

the Knights got a goal from Jason Trahey and the game-winner from Craig Berouvsky to advance to the state tournament next week. Boys' basketball Curley 64, Coral Shores 57: Rosemond Joseph scored 25 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the knights (11-81. Pecs 74, Westminster Christian 41): An. surd Cover scored 10 of his 13 points in the third quarter as the Spartans outscored the Warriors, 23-11. to open up what was a close game.

Pace was led by Ralph Fabian's 24 points and Walter Sidd's 18 points, and improved its record to 16-11. Ransom 42. LaSalle 26: David Attride scored 10 points and Steve Robey added 10 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Raiders (13-SE Ransom outscored the Royals 23-2 in the fourth quarter after breaking the defensive press. Berkshire SO, Northwest Chriotion 44: Andrew Cooley scored 23 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead the Braves (34-51 Julio Cater scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half as Berkshire outscored the Eagles 35-24 to break the game open. Kendall Academy 52, Highland Christie 51: Rudy 'ilk Cif scored 18 points, including the game-winner with 21 seconds lett, to lead the Corsairs, Ralph Escander contributed 14 points, 12 rebounds and none blocked shots tor Kendall Academy (13-14 Loyola 82, Miami Country Day 50: Elgin James scored 37 points, end four other play.

era scored in double figures to load the Bu itdogs (15-10). Girls' basketball District 14-4A Carla Harris stored 28 points end added Is rebounds as Norland detested AMOntAbfl. the Gators' hope of a Southeastern Conference championship: an Alabama victory locks Florida into second place. Right now, Alabama has a 13-2 league record to Florida's 12-4. No matter the outcome of that.

Foster and a lot of other people expect the Gators to get an NCAA tournament bid. The Miami coach, in fact, sees them winning two or three games in tournament For his' tart, Florida coach Norm Sloan is weary of the threat Miami poses tonight. particularly since his team is so pumped up about the SEC race. 'Miami's big plus is they come In with nothing to Sloan said. "A victory could kind of make their season." Even if that may be a slight exaggeration.

Foster wouldn't quibble about it if he can walk away with a victory. Local colleges Hurricanes' baseball team wins one over LSU U-M. FIU box scores, 7B Cordo Med Monti Om Sleeks Robert Thomas set a school record in the 200- meter dash yesterday. running the distance in 20.89 seconds during a meet with Miami-Dade South and Florida Memorial University at Dade South. Marty Durkin hit a two-run double and Tony Pisciotta pitched a three-hitter over six innings to lead Miami-Dade South to a 5-3 triump over Seminole at Sanford.

The Jaguars' record is now (6-4). New Orleans at 2 p.m today. Earlier yesterday, Tulane defeated Florida 11-10, and New Orleans downed Florida State 3-1. Florida International University's Steve McDowell pitched seven innings of shutout ball and Jorge Laguardia collected two hits to lead the Sunblazers to a 4-0 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic in the first game of a doubleheader at Sunblazer Field. McDowell (1-0) picked up the win in his first collegiate start.

In the second game, the Sunblazers pounded four Sailfish pitchers for 11 hits and 13 runs to win easily, 13-2. The University of Miami's baseball team is back on the winning track, thanks to pitcher Kevin Sheary. Sheary allowed seven hits in six innings and rode an early lead to a 7-2 college baseball victory over Louisiana State last night at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Miami scored two runs in the first, two in the second and a run in the third to post a 5-0 edge en route to handing LSU its first defeat against two ictories. Miami improed to 2-5 on the scar.

The game was the third in a three-day round robin tournament between Louisiana and Florida college baseball teams. U-M plays Freddie Vare la's run-scoring sacrifice fly in the fifth inning led Miami-Dade North to a 3-2 victory over Brevard Community College yesterday at Dade North. Arnie Prieto worked nine innings. scattering five hits. to pick up his third victory of the season.

The University of Miami track standout BEAN, from 1B Doral Open at a glance WHAT: Doral Ryder Open. WHEN: Thursday-Sunday. WHERE: Doral Country Club Blue Course, 4400 NW 87th Ave. FORMAT: 72 holes of stroke play. PURSE: million.

the first million PGA Tour event east of the Mississippi River and the fourth-richest on the Tour this year. The winner's share is 8180.000. DEFENDING CHAMPION: Andy Bean. BENEFIT: The American Cancer Society will receive a mini. mum of 8300,000 from the tournament.

ATTENDANCE: 75,000 spectators are expected for the four. day event. with peak CrOwdl Of 30,000 each of the final two days. TELEVISION: WTVJ-TV. Channel 4, the local CBS affiliate will broadcast the final round from 1.30-3.30 p.m.

Saturday and 4.304 pin. Sunday. ners," said Bean, who has aver-, aged better than 275 yards off the tee. When the wind is blowing. I can really take advantage of my length.

With the wind in my face. I can fight through it. If I'm downwind. the holes play that much shorter. The words are those of a man whose confidence is buoyed by past precedent.

yet cautious that the law of averages never ceases in its lust to get even. 'I'm looking forward to Dora! because I have a lot of positive thoughts about playing there." Bean said. 'But I've been around long enough to know that if you don't get a couple of good bounces now and then. you're not going to win many tournaments. A lot of any player's success is just plain good luck.

There's no substitute for that." Except perhaps a strong friend there. The wind is in your face on the finishing holes, 15 through 18. and Cse always done weli on them." Trailing by fist shots with nine holes to play last year, Bean birdied 10 and II to start his finishing surge. A bogey at IS delayed the charge and kit him two shots off the lead. I3ut Green let him hack into contention by bogeying three of the final four holes, allowing Bean to force a playoff and ultimately end a 23-month winless streak.

That victory preceded another another at the Byron Nelson Classic in May. Bean finished in the Top 10 eight other times in 27 tournaments. and wound up in the money all but five times. His S491.938 in earnings placed him fourth on the money list. the fifth time he has ranked in the top 10 since 1978.14st season also put Bean Wier the $2 million mark for his professional career everything I grew up with is the same as we face today.

The vie ments seem to be suited to my game." As is which boasts three holes among the 25 toughest on the Tour and the most demanding finishing hole. according to statis tical rankings. The golf course sets up well for me." Bean said. You need long irons on the par threes and you have four or liNe holes that play fairly long because of the wind. The par fours.

you can play with medium to long irons into the hole. think I'm probably as accurate as anyone with an iron in my hand." Bean's long driving capability will put him into position to use his irons. But more than setting up scoring opportunities. his length off the tee will counteract whatev er obstacles Doral's winds throw before competing players. "being able to hit the ball a tong way enables me to cut a few cop, month, this year hasn't started too well.

either. lie wound up 68th, 28th, tied for 23rd and tied for 15th in his other starts, but is far from panicking as the first of three straight Florida Tour stops approach. "didn't play hardly at all in December," Bean said. It takes awhile for my game to come back to me. and I always look for it to be at its peak when the Tour comes to Florida." Besides his three wins at Dora', Bean has a 1981 victory at the Bay Hill Classic to back up his prediction of strong play in his home state.

-I seem to play well in this part of the country." the Lakeland resident said. "Maybe Its because I'm more comfortable playing here than I am in California. 1 know all the conditions we play in here very well. grew up playing on Bermuda raw in the windy conditions Mama That banner season followed what Bean termed a "kind of blah year" in 1985. Only his second winless season since gaining a first career victory at Dora! in 1977 13ean still earned nearly $200,000, "It seemed like 1 was always on the fence in 1985 and kept falling off the wrong side.

Bean said. "It wasn't a sery good year for me." Aside from a tie for fourth at the Bob hope Chrysler Classic last Supercross champion Rick Johnson overcomes his injuries SANTOS PEREZ MON illiPIN illea excitement. can't think of a mote exciting sport. in football. you have your great play.

but then the action stops. then begins again. With racing. every turn can provide some thrills. The speed.

the altitude and manta. vers make it an excellent spectator sport." Johnson hopes to most closet to the leadership of the Supercross standings at ter tonight's race. Currently. tio is in fourth piste with 44 points aftet the firia three rounds and traAs kadee. Jiff Ward.

by 20 points. The StriPS runs throsigh July with the finals scheduled for the Los An. ries Coliseum. Amor the strips on the road to the finals are the Snaffles King. the Sils erdome la Texas Stadium in frsirig.

Texas. and Sun Devil Stadium in Arit chance I take." Johnson mid "You cant base that fear if you want to succeed in this sport. if you worry about it the nsit of injury usucedy increases. And those who worry reser make it to the professional ksel" Johnson will follow that approach to tonght's fourlh round cot the Coors surer. cross series at the Orange Boat.

The siatiie of Sam Dcego so' he can think of Cafurc's sheet he tat a Supercross aaenpionsh to de fend Stid, there are incidents that are fru Johnscat to forgrt. TWO weeks ago. he suffered a crtmw.son 'Ivor the see ond round a the arries in the A vrodorne Four 'ears arn. autian4.1 a hit sql-e' nee! him for vit hit myself on the head and I didn't remember anything after that? Johnson laid of his concuss4on. -But when seeing the replay of the accident and noticing that I was just tying On the turf motionless.

I wondered how I was able to molter so But the one accident that Johnson can't forget was the one ItiffITIPti by his Honda Pacing teammate. David Bailey. Bailey suffered a broken twk ilwing a practice run last imointh intiKh left tiim paralyzed from the Am down. -It is esvecialiy toug to take because David and I are rood Jfihnson uoil. -When you set a teammate of yours doom Lk, that you can't hey but lefi.

sr he win Telco er trrwit irrtry" Jeff frisk. an Australian national champion nho races for the Yamaha racing team. says the injury factor oftea 4) the sports other elements. -Prople think thts is only a sport that tests your braery." 'tisk said. -liut this is also a sport of physical fitness and concentration.

You need the training skills if you sant to suured." Decpite the dangers of the sport. John-on. 22, Of' 41 encountered parental pressure sheik he first belarne involYed is ra( ing. )Ay parents were alas); supportme." said Johnson, st ho has twets facirg prole looney for all 'ears. Ir om the moment I entered rry first race.

I kn'eW this is "Eat I named to do I en thouglii I finished in the tia( gafrk. I Imed the Tbe excitement of riding a motorcycle to its fastest speed. lifting the cohitle and overcoming a dangerous limp Passing an oppooent On a tricky tura and boating him to the finish line. Kk Johrisos has experienced sucb thrills during his 13-year career as a molorry( liKer. tact )ear.

Johnwqi enyled his biggest thrill gailies be won Supercross Series hart bet Jnw reallzes that fog all thAP bitti-speed era ra there are tart onorients. too. This fact paced sport resfr3 the element of irpry tealy spry tun" -It Is a darcercoks sport but this is tSo 4 .0 S.dt.dinalboaANAlomM11,.AnhAlbAboElb.