DATE: Thursday, April 17, 1997              TAG: 9704180892

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   47 lines

PACIFICBOUNTY LIKELY FOR KENTUCKY DERBY OWNERS - ONE FROM NORFOLK - AWAITING WORD FROM TRAINER ABOUT HOOF INJURY.

It's looking very likely that Pacificbounty, the thoroughbred colt owned in part by Norfolk's Donald Grey, will run in the Kentucky Derby May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Grey said Wednesday that the horse's five-man ownership group, Ocean Air Stables, has decided to submit the $15,000 entry fee. An additional starting fee of $15,000 is due by April 30.

``I guess it's just like someone calling and saying, `Bring your lottery ticket to Richmond, we're ready to pay,' '' Grey said. ``It's a moment of euphoria.''

Pacificbounty was shipped to Churchill Downs Sunday after finishing third at the Arkansas Derby Saturday afternoon. The horse injured its right front hoof during the race, and the owners want to make certain it's healthy before entering the Derby.

``It's probably two out of three the horse would run,'' said Gordon Sinkoff, a San Diego stockbroker who owns one-third of the horse, twice as much as each of the other four owners. ``We're waiting for (trainer) Walt Greenman to come back with a recommendation.''

Greenman, reached in California Wednesday, said ``it's way better than two of three'' that the horse will run.

``His leg is fine. It's just a little bit raw,'' Greenman said. ``It probably won't heal completely before the race, but it's not serious.''

The horse stumbled out of the gate Saturday and banged one leg against the other. Greenman and Grey said the injury may have prevented the colt from winning.

Pacificbounty came from eight lengths back and made a strong move at the top of the backstretch to close on the leaders. He couldn't sustain it, however, and was outrun by a length down the stretch by Crypto Star, and Phantom on Tour.

``I feel great about the way he ran,'' Grey said.

``If the trainer thinks we have a chance to win the race, we'll go,'' Sinkoff said. ``We're not going to go just to be in the Kentucky Derby.''

Asked if Pacificbounty has a chance, Greenman said: ``Damn right. He's a good horse.''

Others agree. Pacificbounty has been called one of the ten top Derby prospects. In Wednesday's Daily Racing Form, Pacificbounty was called ``an enticing dark horse.

``Look for him to take huge step forward,'' the publication said.

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