Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 24, 1993

How tough is it to reach the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby, let alone cross the finish line first? . . .

Not long ago, a Las Vegas sports book made the odds 5-2 against the 2-year-old champion, Gilded Time, running in the feature race the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs. The same price was offered on highly regarded River Special. . . .

Both colts have since had setbacks, Gilded Time suffering a hoof injury and River Special coming down with a fever. . . .

A.P. Indy was scratched the morning of the race last year. Such memorable juvenile champions as Hoist The Flag, Buckpasser, Tom Fool and Devil’s Bag never got that close. Neither did Dinard, Cahill Road or the late Grand Canyon in recent years. The last 2-year-old champion to win the Derby was Spectacular Bid in 1979. . . .

Complicating the task for prospects stabled in Southern California this winter has been the weather. . . .

“The injury factor goes way up when you train or race a horse on a muddy track,” trainer Wayne Lukas said. “You never get the same horse back. They leave something out there.” . . .

Lukas entered Fort Chaffee, probably his best Derby prospect, in an allowance race last Friday at Santa Anita, then withdrew him because of the track conditions. . . .

Fort Chaffee, who hasn’t raced since winning his debut Oct. 11, is likely to go in the $75,000 Bolsa Chica Stakes today, rain or shine, fast or slow track. . . .

“It’s time to get going,” Lukas said. . . .

The same might be said about his entire operation. He broke his own record by winning the trainers’ money-earning title for the 10th consecutive year in 1992 and led the nation in stakes victories but was without a genuine star. . . .

Among his new horses, he is bullish on Brief Truce. The 4-year-old bay colt from Ireland, who finished a fast-closing third in the Breeders’ Cup mile on a muggy Florida afternoon when most European horses flopped, is expected to make his debut for Lukas in April. . . .

Right now, this is a sport without a four-legged standout. A.P. Indy, 4, was the most recent champion to be retired to stud early. The 1992 horse of the year raced only 11 times during his career. . . .

“These horses have become so valuable that we’ve made couch potatoes out of them,” Lukas said. . . .

*

Loy Vaught is a favorite of mine, but a deal sending him, Gary Grant and a first-round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons for Mr. Rebound, Dennis Rodman, would strengthen the Clippers. . . .

Shaquille O’Neal is the only NBA player listed in the top 10 of four of the eight statistical categories--scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. . . .

Always on Sunday: O’Neal will appear on NBC for the fourth consecutive Sunday during the Orlando Magic-San Antonio Spur telecast. . . .

Shaq figures to get more playing time from Coach Matt Guokas than he did last Sunday from Coach Pat Riley in the All-Star game. . . .

Avery Johnson, who is showing that point guard should not have been a problem for Jerry Tarkanian’s Spurs, has a 4-1 assists-to-turnovers ratio. . . .

No loss by a visiting team, not even Kansas, at the madhouse that is Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum should be considered a big upset. . . .

Freshman forward John Wallace is beginning to remind Syracuse fans of Derrick Coleman. . . .

NHL coach-of-the-year candidates include Pat Burns of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jacques Demers, who replaced Burns as coach of the Montreal Canadiens. . . .

Mike Tyson’s World Boxing Council, WBA, and IBF heavyweight championship belts, which he gave to his former trainer Kevin Rooney, will be auctioned Saturday morning at the Superior Galleries in Beverly Hills. The estimated value of each is $40,000-$50,000. . . .

The Hall of Fame veterans’ committee erred Tuesday when it again failed to elect Phil Rizzuto and Carl Mays. You know about Rizzuto. And Mays, who is infamous for the pitch that killed Ray Chapman, won at least 20 games five times during his career. . . .

Formation of the 11-member Continental Indoor Soccer League, whose first season will be conducted from June until September, will be announced Friday at the Forum. . . .

A former NFL star with a big future in administration, Ozzie Newsome, has been elevated to pro personnel director of the Cleveland Browns. . . .

Dan Williams, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive end from Toledo, was among the surprises at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. . . .

Of the 30 players at the combine who weighed at least 300 pounds, 22 were offensive linemen. There were no kickers. . . .

I hope the weather doesn’t turn the Nissan L.A. Open into the L.A. Closed.