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:  October 24, 2005            /s/ George R. Aylward
     ----------------------        ------------------------------------
                                   George R. Aylward, Executive Vice President
                                   (principal executive officer)


I, Nancy G. Curtiss, Chief Financial Officer and 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:  October 20, 2005            /s/ Nancy G. Curtiss
     ----------------------        --------------------------------------------
                                   Nancy G. Curtiss, Chief Financial Officer
                                   and Treasurer
                                   (principal financial officer)