Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 27

TIMES-ADVOCATE Business Wednesday, Aug. 29, 1984 Shrewd claiming trainer plays to win 'The claiming of horses is like a card game. When I 1' have a horse in a race, peo-- pie dont know if I'm just trying to unload him or win a race. Its like a card game, that's what it is. And a lot of people dont like to play cards with Mike Mitchell By Larry Weinbaum Times-Advocate Sportswriter DEL MAR If indeed the claiming business is a card game, Mike Mitchell v.

is the ace. Perhaps the ace of spades. Mitchell is among the top roughbred claiming trainers on the Southern California circuit. He has led Del Mar condition-' ers the past three seasons and is bidding for his fourth consecutive i title this summer. Already through 30 racing dates, the 35-year-old Mitchell has saddled 12 1 Del Mar winners in 52 starts.

Mitchell trails Mel Stute by one victory. Stute has started 63 hors-" es. In order to understand Mitchell, this crafty 10-year veteran of the claiming business, you have to first understand what a claim- ing race is. At the race track, the majority of races are claimers. That is, all the horses in that contest are for sale.

On this circuit, those price tags vary from $10,000 to $50,000 for the most part, but there are also a few special races written for higher-priced horses. If you want to buy a horse out of a claiming race, you must buy him before that race is contested. Tou have up to 15 minutes before the race to have a licensed trainer deposit your check in the claiming box. Once the gate opens and the race starts, you own that horse whether he wins by the length of the grandstand or snaps both ankles on the far turn. His pink slip is yours, although any purse money won in that race goes to Phillies' hot bats slow up Padres PHILADELPHIA (AP) A1 Oliver says he knew the Philadelphia Phillies had the potential to be an outstanding offensive ball club.

Maybe Oliver has something to do with bringing out that potential. Since Oliver joined the club Aug. 20 in a deal with the San Francisco Giants, the Phillies have scored 63 runs in eight games. They beat the San Diego Padres 11-8 Tuesday night, overcoming a 3-0 San Diego lead with seven runs in the second inning. The loss, combined with Houstons 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh, cut the Padres lead in the National League West to nine games.

Meanwhile, Phillies Manager Paul Owens said Oliver, who contributed two hits, is the catalyst for the Phillies streak. His hitting rubs off on the others, Owens said. We dont have any dead innings anymore. He keeps it going. Owens noted that Oliver, who has hit .293 since joining the Phillies, keeps opponents guessing.

He hits in the alleys and down the lines, Owens said. Oliver, who was a member of Pittsburghs heavy-hitting "Lumber Company, said the last three games have been some of the best offensive games Ive seen. Ive been hitting well since I became a Philly. But something Im pleased with is that my teammates are doing well also. I havent seen anything like it in 16-years as a major leaguer.

Oliver was acquired to put punch in the Phillies batting order and to put an end to one-run defeats. Its hard to pinpoint what my role is. I think its continuing to be the consistent performer I have been in my career. The key to any team is to be consistent in all areas of the game, he said. Sixto Lezcano also got two hits and had two RBI Friday night.

Last Wednesday, he had two hits in a 10-run inning against the Giants. Shane Rawley, 7-3, worked six innings Tuesday night to get the victory. A1 Holland, who surrendered Terry Kennedys 10th home run, pitched the ninth to collect his 28 th save. The Padres took a 3-0 lead in the first. Alan Wiggins and Tony Gwynn started it with singles.

Steve Garvey singled home Wiggins, and Kevin McReynolds followed with a single to load the bases. Carmelo Martinez added a sacrifice fly and Luis Salazar a run-scoring double. The Phillies rallied in the second when they sent 12 batters to the plate against loser Andy Hawkins. Oliver opened with a double and scored on Lezcanos single. Hawkins, 7-7, walked Len Matuszek and Ozzie Virgil to load the bases, and Ivan DeJesus to force in a run.

Juan Samuel added a two-run single to make it 4-3, then stole his National League-leading 60th base and continued to third on a wild throw by Kennedy, which allowed DeJesus to score. Von Hayes singled home Samuel, then Oliver got his second hit of the inning. Hayes scored on Lezcanos second hit of the inning. Garveys run-scoring hit made it 7-4 in the fourth. The Phillies made it 9-4 in the sixth on Luis Aguayos run-scoring double and Hayes second RBI single.

The Padres made it 9-6 in the seventh off reliever Larry Andersen, who made a throwing error, with a run-scoring infield out and a single by pinch-hitter Bobby Brown. When a Mike Mitchell horse is entered in a race, is he entered to win or be sold? Or both? Yes, its both, of course, says Mitchell matter-of-factly. "But my first concern is to win. I dont care about being second or third. Sometimes I buy a horse and have made a mistake, paid say, $40,000 for an animal worth $32,000.

Why run him against horses better than he is and get him beat? Why fool around? Evaluate his level and win a damn race. Because he wheels and deals and buys horses for a certain amount, then enters for lesser amounts and wins races, some other trainers look at Mitchell from a distance. "Whats this guy doing? they ask. Is he patching up some over-priced bum for one race? Does he just want to be leading trainer? They are afraid to claim horses from him because they think, well, let Mitchell tell it in his own words. He admits when he was younger before he fell head-over-heels in love with his pretty wife of three years, Denise, (they had a baby girl six months ago, Please see Mitchell, page D3 the previous owner.

So in this dog-eat-dog claiming business, there are two motives behind every entrant: to sell him andor win that race. And thats where this shrewdie named Mitchell comes in. Because the claiming of horses is like a card game with a lot of bluffing and ulterior motives, Mitchell enjoys the mystery and intrigue. Reminiscing about stable of winners with him than anyone else. HeJ won at 1:08 45 and 1:09 flat at $50,000 and $60,000 for me.

The horse that gets Mitchell emotional is Banker John, an unsound sprinter who fired bullets every time Mitchell got his hands on him. "I claimed him for $12,500 and he won by a nose. I went to the receiving bam where he was being cooled out and he was a mess. Looked awful, terrible. There were puddles of blood dripping from both nostrils and I said, OK, now I get to run him on lasix (a drug that lowers blood pressure, inhibits bleeding and increases the horses performance).

This isnt so bad. "The groom told me he was already on lasix. Oh, boy. The next day Banker John is so lame he cant walk out of the stall. I get a vet to X-ray his knees.

I ask the vet, How are the pictures? Let me see. The vet says I wont let you, youll retire him. "He had all kinds of bone chips and loose tissue in there. He kept winning for me, though. Won' $130,000.

He was mean, bit every By Larrv Weinbaum Times-Advocate Sportswriter ike Mitchell has had some horses that stand out: Trento, Distant Ryder, Johnnys Image, Maca-demia, Rough Rider, Super Star Vincent, Andrew Feeney, Ashford Castle, Crimson Commander and his personal favorite Banker John. Johnnys Image was a stakes horse and Distant Ryder won this Aprils California Derby, but overall, Mitchells horses have been hard-knocking claimers. "Super Star Vincent was one of the nicest horses Ive ever had, said Mitchell. "Claimed him for $25,000 and the first time I stretched him out he won a mile and one-eighth race in 1:47 and change. Won by 10 lengths.

"Rough Rider was a tough old son-of-a-gun. Won seven in a row. He was blind in one eye and had one terrible wheel, a real ugly bowed leg. He was tough no make that miserable to train, mean and ornery. The odd thing about Rough Rider being blind in one eye was when he heard something he would run toward it, not away from it like youd think.

He was an honest old horse. The day he broke down was at Hollywood Park going seven furlongs. They ran 1:22 15 and he got beat a nose. "I raced Andrew Feeney when he was 10 and 11 years old and he still won races. He was the best tout of a racehorse I ever saw.

When he was sore and he had a terrible back on him but pretty good front wheels he would sulk and just wouldnt move at all. "He would be telling you he was hurting. But when he was feeling his oats, hed whine and squeal and kick and buck like a 2-year-old begging to go to the race track. "He had a wind problem and wouldnt run good if he got behind, got dirt up his nose and couldnt breathe. But if you got him to the outside, whoosh, hed fire every time.

He won $300,000 the hard way. "Crimson Commander, what a honest old gelding. I did better Trainer Mike Mitchell talks with rider Chris McCarron. horses, psyche them out and himself up. He knew he was tough.

The day he got claimed off me I cried in the winners circle. one he could. But come a race, his eyes would get big, those veins in his neck would bulge out and he would eye down other DU: was CDwgeirs' day of tiirarostfoirimiattooirii New owner and players arrive, others leave, Winslow in doubt Magic number Kleins transfer of his 56 percent controlling interest to Spanos, the Stockton real estate developer. Klein will stay with the club as a consultant. The approval by NFL owners was considered a formality.

Spanos had already been approved as a minority owner, having a 10 percent investment in the club. But the most important figure in Tuesdays developments was Winslow, the Chargers four-time Pro Bowl tight end. Winslow has hinted that if the Chargers do not soon upgrade his contract, he make take a hike before the clubs season opener Sunday in Minnesota. Winslow has two years remaining on his contract, which the Chargers rewrote three years ago. But when he signed the deal, Klein agreed that it could be rewritten this season.

Spanos said he plans to honor Klein's promise. By Don Norcross Times-Advocate Sportswriter SAN DIEGO Vince Osby and Fred Robinson came back, although they were never really gone. Don Brown left. Rickey Haygood arrived. Tim Fox and Keith Guthrie were put on the shelf.

Alex Spanos arrived for good. And no ones sure if Kellen Winslows coming or going. It was a busy day Tuesday in Charger Land. Lets take it from the top. The Chargers re-claimed Osby, a linebacker, and Robinson, a defensive end, on waivers.

The Chargers had waived them Monday to get down to the minimum 49. But the pair never left town. They even practiced with the team Monday. The club figured it could sneak them through waivers. There were spots open on the roster because Fox and Guthrie were placed on injured reserve Tuesday.

Fox, the veteran defensive back, is recovering from off-season ankle surgery. Guthrie, a rookie nose tackle, is mending from a broken tailbone. Fox and Guthrie wont be available until the fifth week of the regular season. Brown was placed on waivers to make room for Haygood, a 6-foot-2, 286-pound nose tackle out of Texas Tech. A free agent with Seattle, Haygood had been waived by Seattle on Monday.

Still with us? Good, because Gene Klein isnt anymore. At least not as the Chargers owner. The NFLs other 27 owners approved Thats why Winslows agent, Jim Steiner of St. Louis, was in San Diego Tuesday. Steiner and Chargers General Manager Johnny Sanders scheduled a meeting for today.

Winslow has a base salary of $210,000, plenty to live off, but mediocre compared to other salaries around the league. Spanos, meanwhile, was ecstatic about his approval as the clubs maioritv owner. "Im on cloud nine, he said. This is a culmination of a dream, a lifelong dream. Im a very happy man today.

What more can I say?" Klein, meanwhile, wanted to assure the San Diego public that its team is in capable hands. "Alex Spanos is a man for whom I have the utmost respect, said Klein. "The Chargers are in good hands with Alex Spanos. The Chargers will continue to be a great tradition in the community. With or without Winslow? Klein wouldnt say.

enter R3DSL ing in Washington, D.C. The four teams will pay $600,000 now and the remainder will come from playoff money, although not more than $75,000 per year. Each team must purchase a $250,000 performance bond. San Diego and the Cosmos will pay $200,000 of the application fee now with $200,000 deferred. The Sting and the Strikers will pay $100,000 now.

Third time's charm for Socket's to ized within the next day or two. announced the league was breaking off Along with the Sockers, the Chicago Sting, talks and would be announcing the schedule Minnesota Strikers and xthe Cosmos are for the upcoming season without any NASL leaving the North AmericaivSoccer League teams. for the MISL. The droppingof the NASL Foreman introduced two new conditions Indoor season was the reason the four clubs the four NASL teams proceed without ap- decided to move. proval of the players union and that any The negotiations with the MISL beganJnplayoff money be used to pay the $1,675 mil-July and as late as Saturday looked doomed lion application fee.

The four teams reject-when MISL Commissioner Earl Foreman ed them, but later accepted them at a meet- SAN DIEGO (AP) After being pointed twice before, the San Diego Sockers may tobe headed into the Major Indoor Soccer League after all. There are some details still to be worked out, including receiving a release from the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Tulsa Roughnecks, who will not be playing indoors, and approval of the club transfer by the NASL Players Union, but the deal could be final- The magic number is any combination of Padres victories and Houston losses adding up to the number needed to eliminate the second-place Astros and clinch the pennant for San Diego. 4. i u'.