Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 27, 1993

On Sunday, trainer Bobby Frankel called two of the world’s best jockeys, Kent Desormeaux and Gary Stevens, “morons” for the way they rode in a race at Santa Anita. . . .

On Monday, Frankel said jockeys weren’t appreciated enough. . . .

“They are grossly underpaid,” he said. “They’re terrific athletes. They risk their lives every day, but they don’t make nearly as much money as the stars in other sports. If they get hurt, they don’t get paid at all. I heard an owner say that the jocks should get 7 1/2% instead of 10% of prize money. What a joke.” . . .

Call him the frank Mr. Frankel. He isn’t afraid to reveal his emotion of the moment. Never has been. . . .

However, there have been some changes in the 52-year-old trainer from Brooklyn during his rise from king of claimers to leading money winner in the nation. . . .

“I’m more relaxed,” he said. “Every race isn’t the end of the world for me anymore. If I didn’t win, I was afraid that people would think I couldn’t train. Now I concentrate on winning the big ones.” . . .

On Nov. 6 at Santa Anita, Frankel will be trying to win as many as five big ones during the 10th Breeders’ Cup. . . .

He will saddle Bertrando, Marquetry and Missionary Ridge in the Classic, Jolypha in the Distaff, Toussaud in the Mile, Luazur in the Turf, and probably Now Listen in the Sprint. . . .

Frankel never has won a Breeders’ Cup race, but Bertrando is the horse to beat in the richest one, and Jolphya is given a decent shot to win what could be the most competitive race. . . .

“My main goal is to win the money title,” said Frankel, who has $7 million in earnings and a lead of about $2 million. “The Eclipse Award is about politics and personalities. Sometimes the most deserving trainers, like Wayne Lukas, don’t win. Of course, the Breeders’ Cup is very important. It’s a great day for the sport, especially because all the races are on national TV.” . . .

The Frankel touch might be most evident in Bertrando, a speedster whose endurance was questioned before he was sent to Bobby’s barn a year ago. . . .

“That was just talk that Bertrando couldn’t go a distance,” he said. “It’s tough to beat a horse like him. If you try to hook him on the front end, you beat yourself. If you leave him alone on the lead, he won’t stop.” . . .

What is the best horse Frankel has trained? . . .

“Ask me after the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. . . .

*

Mark Aguirre should give the Clippers some needed scoring help off the bench at small forward. . . .

The Golden State Warriors made the best available choice when they replaced Tim Hardaway with Avery Johnson. . . .

Rolando Blackman, looking more like his old self, could help put the New York Knicks over the top. . . .

Both the Clippers and Lakers are down in season-ticket sales. . . .

The Raiders are unhappy that they couldn’t sign Paul Gruber and the Angels are unhappy that they did sign Kelly Gruber. . . .

The Phoenix Cardinals (2-5) have outscored their opponents, 135-133. . . .

Riddick Bowe will conduct a pre-Halloween party today at Children’s Hospital and appear with his Nov. 6 opponent, Evander Holyfield, on the Arsenio Hall show tonight. . . .

Caesars World chairman Henry Gluck has signed Bowe to a multifight, multiyear exclusive services contract. . . .

Look-alikes: Andy Van Slyke and Glenn Frey. . . .

Playing spots are still available for the second annual Kings’ charity tournament Nov. 15 at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. Proceeds will benefit the Kings’ Wives for Kids Foundation. . . .

Under next year’s alignment, the baseball division winners this year would have been Atlanta, St. Louis and San Francisco in the National League and Toronto, Chicago and Texas in the American. The wild cards would have been Philadelphia and the New York Yankees. . . .

Thumbs up to the Dodgers for signing Art Howe, who shouldn’t have been fired by the Houston Astros, as a special assignment scout. . . .

I’ve got a complaint from a Dodger season ticket-holder who says prices weren’t lowered after a 99-loss season, but some of them were raised after an 81-81 season. . . .

Eight minor leagues and 45 franchises set attendance records. . . .

The Chicago Cubs might not be better, but they will be funnier with Moe Drabowsky as pitching coach. . . .

Cito Gaston, who has won four division titles and two World Series without being voted American League manager of the year, is the new Pat Riley. . . .

October could be remembered in Toronto as the month that the Blue Jays won the World Series and the Maple Leafs clinched an NHL playoff berth.