CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 30A-2(b) UNDER THE 1940 ACT
                   AND SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

I, George R. Aylward,  Executive Vice President  of  Phoenix Investment Trust 97
(the "Registrant"), certify that:

         1.     The Form N-CSR of the Registrant  (the "Report")  fully complies
                with  the   requirements  of  Section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         2.     The information  contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
                material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of
                operations of the Registrant.


Date:    May 5, 2005                          /s/ George R. Aylward
     -----------------------------            ----------------------------------
                                              George R. Aylward, Executive Vice
                                              President
                                              (principal executive officer)


I,  Nancy  G.  Curtiss,   Treasurer   of   Phoenix   Investment  Trust  97  (the
"Registrant"), certify that:

         1.     The Form N-CSR of the Registrant  (the "Report")  fully complies
                with  the   requirements  of  Section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         2.     The information  contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
                material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of
                operations of the Registrant.


Date:    May 5, 2005                               /s/ Nancy G. Curtiss
     -------------------------------               -----------------------------
                                                   Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer
                                                   (principal financial officer)