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 containing the financial statements (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, 2006 /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 containing the financial statements (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 4, 2006 /s/ Nancy G. Curtiss ------------------------ ----------------------------------------- Nancy G. Curtiss, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial officer)