CALLER I.D. LEADS 9 ENTERED IN 86TH HOPEFUL.(Sports)

Byline: Tim Wilkin Staff writer

On the last Saturday of the thoroughbred convention here, they send out the rookies. Today, the wannabees of the 2-year-old colt division will have their chance in the 86th running of the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

In years past, this race has been a showcase for some of the future stars of the sport. Some of the past winners of the Hopeful that have gone on to greater things include Native Dancer, Secretariat, Foolish Pleasure and Affirmed.

Other winners of the Hopeful went the other route. Horses such as Papal Power and last year's winner, Deposit Ticket, didn't become superstars.

This year, a field of nine will try the 6 1/2 furlong Hopeful. Leading the way is Caller I.D., who is looking to sweep the Spa's version of the 2-year-old Triple Crown. Caller I.D. has already won the Saratoga Special (July 26) and the Sanford (August 9).

Only two other horses have completed the triple - Campfire (1916) and Regret (1914). Regret was a filly; back in those days they let the ladies run in the Hopeful. Of course, the five-week meeting (instead of traditional four) gives horses more of a chance to rest between races.

"The Hopeful is a key race," said trainer Jeff Lukas. "It's one of the key races of the season for the 2- year-olds. If you think you've got a shot, you've got to be there."

Lukas thinks he has shot in here and will send two youngsters to run at Caller I.D. He'll run Salt Lake, the beaten favorite in the Sanford today. He'll be coupled with Big Sur, who comes to the Hopeful after winning the Sapling at Monmouth two weeks ago.

Clearly, though, the colt to beat here is Caller I.D.

The son of Phone Trick has won three of four starts. After breaking his maiden at Belmont in June, Caller I.D. didn't take to the slop in the Tremont and was third to Salt Lake and Treasure Man.

Since coming to Saratoga, Caller I.D. has done nothing wrong. He romped to a nine length win in the Saratoga Special and then met another sloppy track - and Salt Lake - in the Sanford.

In that one, he didn't have any problems with either and won by five lengths.

"He didn't break well in the Tremont," said Stanley Hough, who trains Caller I.D. "He was on the inside and had to be rushed up. He moved up into second but he hit himself in four or five places and he never took hold of the bit. I thought it was the racetrack and didn't really want to run in the Sanford. But he was doing so well that we took a shot."

Caller I.D. has shown he can win at six furlongs. Now Hough will find out if he can run at a new distance.

"He has so much speed but it's hard to translate that into class," Hough said. "I just hope he can go six and a half furlongs Saturday (today). Then we'll look at going longer."

Said jockey Jerry Bailey, who will ride Caller I.D. today: "he's a fast horse, probably the fastest horse around here."

It was thought that Salt Lake, because of his romp through the Belmont slop in the Tremont, would handle it here. What happened was the complete opposite as he finished last in the six-horse field, beaten 26 lengths.

"The Sanford was a throw out race," Lukas said. "The track was terribly sloppy and he didn't fire. But he came out of it great and has worked well since."

The other Lukas entry, Big Sur, gave the family its fourth Sapling victory in five years. Lukas said he thinks the son of Alydar might be even better as the races get longer.

"I like both of their chances in the Hopeful," said Lukas, who saddled Travers winner Corporate Report last weekend here. "They are different kinds of horses. Salt Lake is compact and a sprinter while Big Sur is rangier and will be better coming from off the pace as the races get longer."

Caller I.D. has been made the 6-5 morning line favorite. The Lukas entry is the second choice at 6-5.

The rest of the field includes Money Run, who was third in the Sanford, Paradise Creek, who won his only race, an 11-length victory in July at Belmont; Perferences, who is still a maiden; Seattle Shuffle, who has a win and a second in two starts; Smiling and Dancin, who broke his maiden in his last race and Slew's Ghost, who won his racing debut here earlier this month. Slew's Ghost is the colt who had bleach thrown in his face at Belmont Park by a security guard.