Easy Goer

Bred and owned by Ogden Phipps, Easy Goer was a son of Alydar out of the 1981 American Champion Older Female Horse Relaxing (by Buckpasser). He was trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Pat Day.

Blood-Horse pedigree analyst Avalyn Hunter's assessment of Easy Goer was that "Easy Goer combined blistering speed over a mile with thoroughly genuine stamina."{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Avalyn |date=July 29, 2009 |title=Funny Moon Bred on Miler-Over-Stamina Model |work=Blood Horse |url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/51883/funny-moon-bred-on-miler-over-stamina-model}}

Before his career began, Easy Goer was shipped to McGaughey at the Payson Park Training Center in Indiantown, Florida, where he spent the winter getting acquainted with the starting gate and underwent basic training. His trainer noted some faults in his conformation. He had puffy, problematic ankles,{{cite news |title=HORSE RACING : Maybe It's Time Easy Goer Gets a Different Rider |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-08-sp-1011-story.html |access-date=2013-04-21}} a clubfoot, and a turned-out left knee, all providing the potential for injury once the horse began serious workouts.{{cite magazine |last=Stathoplos |first=Demmie |date=May 8, 1989 |title=A Tale Of Two Horse |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1989/05/08/106780239/a-tale-of-two-horse |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} However, McGaughey was captivated with Easy Goer the first time he saw him, but really felt he had something special when he watched him for the first time with a set of horses. "He gave the impression he could gallop those horses to death," McGaughey said.{{cite news |last=Haskin |first=Steve |date=March 3, 2014 |title=The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown |work=Blood Horse Hangin' with Haskin |url=http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2014/03/03/the-selling-of-the-1989-triple-crown.aspx}}

Easy Goer is highly regarded as one of the best looking horses turf writers have ever seen, despite his chronic ankle problems.

McGaughey described Easy Goer as, "His action was so athletic, so natural, so fluid; he glided over the track; he ran very fast and did it so easily.{{cite news |last=Davidowitz |first=Steve |date=May 4, 1989 |title=Easy Goer draws lots of praise |work=Ocala Star-Banner |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19890504&id=frhPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6677,3524007&hl=en |access-date=July 14, 2016}}

Racing writer Steve Haskin described Easy Goer as "Adonis-like, the closest thing physically to Secretariat. He was plagued by terrible ankles his entire career, but was placed upon a throne at an early age and justified all the adoration.

Racing writer Edward L. Bowen said: "Easy Goer was a glowing chestnut with a fluid stride that belied his short pasterns and less than perfect foot. Pasterns notwithstanding, he had the look of greatness, and he ran to his looks.{{cite book |last=Bowen |first=Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i7ilgwjwtN4C&q=easy+goer+powerful&pg=PA182 |title=Legacies of the Turf: A Century of Great Thoroughbred Breeders, Volume 2 |date=2004 |publisher=Eclipse Press |isbn=9781581501179}} He was a horse who tempted horsemen and fans to slip into their thoughts the phrase, 'the most perfect horse you can imagine.' Easy Goer was large but not too large. He was elegant but not dainty. He was powerful but not gross. To the aesthete taking in the whole rather than haggling over the parts, the dictionary simply proved inadequate: Easy Goer was not just perfect, he was "damned perfect".{{cite book |author=Edward L. Bowen and Richard Stone Reeves |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LhVVOWZ5QR0C&q=easy+goer+century+of+champions+cover&pg=PA157 |title=Belmont Park: A Century of Champions |publisher=Eclipse Press Blood-Horse publications |year=2005 |isbn=9781581501223 |access-date=July 26, 2016}}

Joe Drape of The New York Times described Easy Goer as a "powerful, massive, raw talent with an enormous stride".{{cite book |last=Drape |first=Joe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSmVkBQ0uaIC&q=easy+goer+powerful&pg=PA196 |title=To the Swift: Classic Triple Crown Horses and Their Race for Glory |date=2008 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780312357955}}

Bud Delp, trainer of Spectacular Bid, said, "I hadn't seen the kind of pistonlike action in a horse since Spectacular Bid. Easy Goer had the same kind of stride, which was effortless."{{cite news |last=Christine |first=Bill |date=April 14, 1989 |title=Best colt since Spectacular Bid, says Delp - Easy Goer could win Triple Crown |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19890414&id=0HghAAAAIBAJ&pg=932,3303928&hl=en |access-date=August 8, 2016}}

His running style was multifaceted and flexible, and he was able to adjust to racing conditions;{{cite news |url=http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-21/sports/26150883_1_easy-goer-clever-trevor-shug-mcgaughey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714113258/http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-21/sports/26150883_1_easy-goer-clever-trevor-shug-mcgaughey |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |work=The Inquirer |first=Dick |last=Jerardi |title=Easy Goer Lives Up To Expectations At Travers |date=August 21, 1989}}{{cite news |url=http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-18/sports/26149949_1_easy-goer-clever-trevor-race-track |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224656/http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-18/sports/26149949_1_easy-goer-clever-trevor-race-track |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |work=The Inquirer |first=Dick |last=Jerardi |title=Easy Goer Challenge: Outfox Clever Trevor |date=August 18, 1989}} he could go to the lead or come from behind,{{cite news |url=http://alb.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=5514002 |work=Times Union |first=Keith |last=Marder |title=2 TRAINERS, 2 HORSES, 2 SECONDS |date=June 10, 1989}} he was able to put pressure on speed horses and stay with a faster pace, or drop back if needed.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-08-sp-132-story.html |work=The Los Angeles Times |first=Paul |last=Moran |title=HORSE RACING : Easy Goer Is Poised for Arlington |date=July 8, 1990}} Among his peak performances, Easy Goer ran 124 and 122 Beyer Speed Figures. Easy Goer also routinely ran in the 120 Beyer Speed Figure range on a regular basis in his races.{{cite news |url=https://www.drf.com/news/beyer-figs-get-human-touch |work=Daily Racing Form |first=Dick |last=Jerardi |title=Beyer figs get human touch |date=August 24, 2005}} Easy Goer ran the fastest Beyer Speed Figure performance by any two-year-old, as well as the fastest Beyer Speed Figure performance in any Triple Crown race since Beyer racing figures were first published.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/08/AR2008020803619.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Andrew | last=Beyer | title=With a Combination of Speed and Class, War Pass Is Reminiscent of Seattle Slew | date=February 9, 2008}}{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31625-2004May16.html |newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Andrew | last=Beyer | title=On the Fast Track To History | date=May 17, 2004}}

Easy Goer won his maiden race at seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course under a hand ride in a final time of {{frac|1:22|3|5}}, defeating Is It True by two and a half lengths after being forwardly placed two lengths off the early leaders and having to steady on the backstretch, and, as McGaughey stated, "Running two or three seconds faster than the other maiden race run at the same distance that day at Saratoga."{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/choice-fame-easy-article-1.771584 | work=Daily News |first=Sherry |last=Ross |title=CHOICE FOR FAME VERY EASY |date=August 5, 1997 |access-date=July 6, 2016}} Easy Goer came out of that race with a sore left shin. McGaughey was concerned because he thought he might have to stop the colt's training; however, treatment by hosing and poulticing the leg to draw out the heat was successful. McGaughey decided to wait and have Easy Goer's legs further treated after the Breeders' Cup that November. Easy Goer continued to train at Saratoga.

Three weeks later, he then won a {{frac|6|1|2}}-furlong allowance race by five and a half lengths at Belmont Park, again under little urging, running one-fifth of a second off the track record in {{frac|1:15|2|5}}, while carrying five pounds more than his opponents.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/12/sports/sports-of-the-times-phipps-s-barn-is-the-home-of-the-stars.html | work=The New York Times |first=Steven |last=Crist |title=SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Phipps's Barn Is the Home of the Stars |date=September 12, 1988 |access-date=July 26, 2016}} His trainer said after the race, "Then I knew I was training something special."

After another three week break, Easy Goer next won the seven-furlong Grade I Cowdin Stakes with little encouragement, defeating Is It True again by four lengths. Easy Goer was never more than three and a half lengths behind the early leaders, who ran quick early fractions of {{frac|22|2|5}} and {{frac|45|3|5}}, before drawing away through the stretch. He also defeated Canadian Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Mercedes Won, who was the Hopeful Stakes and Florida Derby winner. He ran the seven furlongs in {{frac|1:23|3|5}}. The final time was more than two seconds off Devil's Bag's 1983 stakes record.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/02/sports/horse-racing-easy-goer-captures-cowdin.html | work=New York Times | title=HORSE RACING; Easy Goer Captures Cowdin | date=2 October 1988 | last1=Crist | first1=Steven }}

Two weeks later Easy Goer won the $557,000 one-mile Grade I Champagne Stakes, again defeating Is It True by four lengths, after vying for command and running a half length to a length and a half behind the leader through fast fractions of {{frac|22|4|5}} and {{frac|45|3|5}}. He also defeated the Belmont Futurity winner Trapp Mountain and Young America Stakes winner Irish Actor. His {{frac|1:34|4|5}} final time for the mile was three-fifths of a second off the Champagne stakes record, and tied for fourth-fastest in Champagne Stakes history behind Vitriolic, Seattle Slew ({{frac|1:34|2|5}}), and Devil's Bag ({{frac|1:34|1|5}}). Additionally, in this Champagne Stakes, Easy Goer ran the fastest Beyer Speed Figure performance (116 Beyer){{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rztm-KHHBt4C&q=easy+goer+beyers&pg=PA185 | first=Andrew | last=Beyer | title=Beyer on Speed | date=1993| publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0544053532 }} of any two-year-old since Beyer racing figures were first published. Racing analyst Andrew Beyer stated, "Easy Goer was the most brilliant American two-year-old of the decade."{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rztm-KHHBt4C&q=easy+goer+beyers&pg=PA185 | first=Andrew | last=Beyer | title=Beyer on Speed | date=1993 | publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0544053532 |access-date=July 26, 2016}} Racing writer Steven Crist stated, "Easy Goer is among the fastest two-year-olds of the last two decades."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/31/sports/breeders-cup-three-stars-will-be-racing-for-more-than-just-a-victory.html | work=The New York Times |first=Steven |last=Crist |title=Breeders' Cup; Three Stars Will Be Racing For More Than Just a Victory |date=October 31, 1988 |access-date=July 26, 2016}}

Three weeks after the Champagne, he finished second by a little more than a length in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile on a muddy track at Churchill Downs, losing to his frequent foe Is It True. Easy Goer had a rough time in that race, having jumped the tire tracks left by the starting gate late in the homestretch, and seemed to be struggling and uncomfortable with the muddy Churchill track.{{cite news| url=http://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/it-true | work=breederscup.com | title=history/hall of champions -Homepage - breederscup.com}}

He earned $697,500 and was named Champion two-year-old colt and was the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. After the Breeders' Cup, he was shipped to New York to have his shins pinfired, and then sent to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida, to recuperate.

At three, Easy Goer started his year in Florida by winning the Swale Stakes in the fastest seven furlongs of the Gulfstream Park meeting in a time of {{frac|1:22|1|5}} while carrying ten pounds more than the runner up.

He then won the one mile Grade II Gotham Stakes by thirteen lengths in stakes and track record time while conceding nine pounds and five pounds to the second and third-place finishers respectively. He ran within one to two lengths of the leaders throughout the race, who were running a very rapid pace of {{frac|44|1|5}} and {{frac|1:08|3|5}}, before running past them and widening away while earning another historic 118 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the fastest Beyer Speed Figures in history in a Triple Crown prep race. He won handily and his winning time of {{frac|1:32|2|5}} for the mile set a new track record, a second faster than Secretariat's stakes record, the fastest mile on a dirt surface by any three-year-old Thoroughbred in history, and a fifth of a second off Dr. Fager's world record.

His next race was the mile and an eighth Grade I Wood Memorial. Easy Goer ran close to the lead the entire race and won by three lengths over Federico Tesio Stakes winner Rock Point. He was timed at {{frac|1:50|3|5}}.

Leading into the Kentucky Derby, Easy Goer had a small crack in his left front heel that was found the week leading into the Kentucky Derby. The crack was serious enough to cause discomfort and possibly keep him from running.{{cite news |last=Christine |first=Bill |date=May 18, 1989 |title=McGaughey decides not to run Easy Goer on bute in Preakness |work=Schenectady Gazette |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19890518&id=omIhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1190,4983781}}

Easy Goer is most remembered for his rivalry with Sunday Silence. The two first met in the 1989 Kentucky Derby where Sunday Silence won by {{frac|2|1|2}} lengths with Easy Goer finishing second, struggling on the muddy track like he did in the Breeders' Cup the year before.{{cite news |date=1989-06-10 |title=BELMONT STAKES; A Wet Track Could Dampen Bid for Crown |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/10/sports/belmont-stakes-a-wet-track-could-dampen-bid-for-crown.html |access-date=2013-04-20}}{{cite news |title=Day finally steers Easy Goer right |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19890612&id=N-lRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6837,3523505 |access-date=2013-04-21}} Easy Goer also had traffic trouble in the race. Sunday Silence meanwhile won in spite of swerving in sharply to the left bumping into Northern Wolf, then veering out.{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1989/05/15/119895/a-sunday-stroll-sunday-silence-made-the-best-of-a-muddy-day-to-beat-easy-goer-in-the-slowest-kentucky-derby-in-years |title=A SUNDAY STROLL |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=1989-05-15 |access-date=2019-05-06}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-24-sp-149-story.html |title=Sunday Silence Loses His Way as Prized Wins |date=1989-07-24 |access-date=2019-05-06}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/07/sports/horse-racing-sunday-silence-takes-derby-in-upset.html | work=The New York Times | first=Steven | last=Crist | title=HORSE RACING; Sunday Silence Takes Derby in Upset | date=May 7, 1989}}

After the Derby, both horses returned to action two weeks later in the 1989 Preakness Stakes. Throughout Preakness week, as late as the day before the race, Easy Goer's front feet were being soaked in a tub of Epsom salts due to small scratches or cracks on both heels. His ankles and knees were also given ultrasound.{{cite news | url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-05-20/sports/8901260263_1_shug-mcgaughey-silence-preakness-stakes | work=Sun Sentinel | first=Dave | last=Joseph | title=Looking For Word To Whys Will Easy Goer Have Answers? | date=May 20, 1989 | access-date=2014-06-11 | archive-date=2014-07-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714110732/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-05-20/sports/8901260263_1_shug-mcgaughey-silence-preakness-stakes | url-status=dead }} Likewise, Sunday Silence also had a bruised foot. Easy Goer, after breaking in the air at the start, made a big, early move down the backstretch which catapulted him to a two-length lead over Sunday Silence with a half mile remaining, with the six-furlong split being run in a rapid {{frac|1:09|3|5}}. Sunday Silence then challenged around the far turn, with both horses running the fastest mile split in Preakness history in {{frac|1:34|1|5}}. Following a head to head duel for the last quarter mile, Sunday Silence won by a nose in a fast final time of {{frac|1:53|4|5}}. The race continues to be admired by critics and fans alike, and has since been added into Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, placing at #70.

Jockey Pat Day was criticized for reining Easy Goer's head sideways to the right in deep stretch with a short lead right before the finish line. Day criticized himself too, calling his ride "a mistake". Bill Christine of the Los Angeles Times, and trainer McGaughey also expressed their opinions on the mistakes they thought Day made during the race.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-05-sp-1157-story.html|title=It Was a Difference of Styles in the Preakness : Valenzuela's Aggressive Western Riding Overwhelmed Day's Eastern Patience |access-date=2013-04-21}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19890612&id=N-lRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6837,3523505|title=Day finally steers Easy Goer right |access-date=2013-04-21}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19890608&id=tFhYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6754,1321166|title=Easy Goer gets last shot |access-date=2013-04-21}} After the race, Day said, "It ran through my mind that I might lose the mount on Easy Goer," Day said. "But then I shared some thoughts--I won't tell you what--with Shug and I felt better."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-11-sp-3372-story.html | work=The Los Angeles Times |first=Bill |last=Christine |title=THE BELMONT : Notes : Sunday Silence and Easy Goer May Not Meet Again Until Fall |date=June 11, 1989 |access-date=July 26, 2016}}

After the Preakness, both rivals returned to action three weeks later in the 1989 Belmont Stakes.{{cite web|url=http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/run_for_the_carnations_belmont_stakes/ |title=Run for the Carnations|publisher=barrypopik.com|date=2010-04-30|access-date=June 13, 2016}} There was some controversy leading into the race because at the time, New York was the only state that banned all race-day drugs and medications,{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-06-sp-581-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times | first=Bill | last=Christine | title=Lasix Debate Steals Belmont Spotlight : Horse racing: New York prohibits use of the diuretic to treat horses, in effect keeping bleeders such as Summer Squall away | date=June 6, 1990 |access-date=July 6, 2016}} including Lasix which is now common place. The Hall of Fame trainer of Sunday Silence, Charlie Whittingham, was angered that the controversial veterinarian Alex Harthill, who treated Sunday Silence earlier for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, was not licensed in New York and prohibited from practicing.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/06/11/new-york-still-bars-harthill/86b9ba1a-24c1-4f6a-9d26-99597e371d03/ | newspaper=Washington Post | first=Vinnie | last=Perrone | title=NEW YORK STILL BARS HARTHILL | date=June 11, 1989 |access-date=July 6, 2016}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/09/sports/belmont-stakes-the-big-two-will-go-head-to-head-at-the-start.html |work=The New York Times | first=Steven | last=Crist | title=BELMONT STAKES; The Big Two Will Go Head to Head at the Start | date=June 9, 1989 |access-date=July 6, 2016}}

When the gate opened, both Easy Goer and Sunday Silence ran in close attendance to the pace-setting leader through swift early fractions, with Easy Goer making his move around the turn propelling himself to the lead, he then opened up a substantial lead through the stretch. Easy Goer defeated Sunday Silence by eight lengths in the time of 2:26 {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/sports/belmont-stakes-an-appropriate-reaction-from-whittingham-silence.html |title=BELMONT STAKES; An Appropriate Reaction From Whittingham: Silence - New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=1989-06-11 |access-date=2011-12-29}} producing the second fastest Belmont Stakes in history, behind Secretariat, and denied Sunday Silence the Triple Crown.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/sports/horse-racing-easy-goer-finally-beats-sunday-silence.html |title=HORSE RACING; Easy Goer Finally Beats Sunday Silence - New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=1989-06-11 |access-date=2011-12-29}} The jockey of Sunday Silence, Pat Valenzuela, described Easy Goer's performance as that of a superhorse. Easy Goer earned a 122 Beyer Speed Figure, the best in any Triple Crown race since these ratings were first published in 1987.

After taking a few months off, Easy Goer's next race was on August 5 in the mile and an eighth Grade I Whitney Handicap at Saratoga, defeating older horses, including Cryptoclearance, by over four lengths in near record time while earning another lofty 119 Beyer Speed Figure.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/10/31/round-two-looks-like-easy-pick/90703cfe-fd55-4477-8849-2379da2ef9a4 | newspaper=Washington Post| first=Andrew | last=Beyer | title=ROUND TWO LOOKS LIKE 'EASY' PICK | date=October 31, 1989 |access-date=November 3, 2020}} McGaughey said after the race, "I don't know if I've ever seen a horse run the last eighth of a mile that fast going long on the dirt. Sometimes, you see it on the grass when a horse has gone a slow paced mile."

Two weeks later at Saratoga, he won the $1.08 million mile and a quarter Grade I Travers Stakes by three lengths also in near-record time while earning another outstanding 121 Beyer Speed Figure. It was the third fastest in Travers history, behind General Assembly and Honest Pleasure, and remains the fifth fastest all time{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/20/sports/horse-racing-easy-goer-takes-travers-by-3-lengths.html |work=The New York Times | first=Steven | last=Crist | title=HORSE RACING; Easy Goer Takes Travers by 3 Lengths | date=August 20, 1989}}

Easy Goer then won the $809,000 mile and a quarter Grade I Woodward Stakes by two lengths on a muddy track, again defeating older horses while carrying more weight and being stuck in traffic, boxed in on the rail and checking twice. Easy Goer's victory seemingly squashed the perception that muddy or wet tracks were his Achilles' heel. Day said after the race, "Mud is different everywhere." This was the final time the Woodward was run at the mile and a quarter distance before being permanently shortened in distance to a mile and an eighth.{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-02-sp-1831-story.html |work=The Los Angeles Times | first=Andrew | last=Beyer | title=Trainers, Horses Aren't Going the Distance | date=September 2, 1990}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/17/sports/horse-racing-easy-goer-proves-he-s-no-1.html |work=The New York Times | first=Steven | last=Crist | title=HORSE RACING; Easy Goer Proves He's No. 1 | date=September 17, 1989}}

Three weeks later, he won the $1.09 million mile and a half Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup by four lengths on October 7, again defeating older horses, included among them were the aforementioned Cryptoclearance, who finished second. He earned another exceptional 120 Beyer Speed Figure in this race. This was the final time the Jockey Club Gold Cup was run at the mile and a half distance prior to being permanently shortened in distance to a mile and a quarter.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/08/sports/horse-racing-easy-goer-surges-to-win-gold-cup.html |work=The New York Times | first=Steven | last=Crist | title=HORSE RACING; Easy Goer Surges To Win Gold Cup | date=October 8, 1989}}

After going their separate ways, the rivalry with Sunday Silence concluded in the Breeders' Cup Classic, run on November 4 at {{frac|1|1|4}} miles. With champion honors at stake, the race was labeled "Race of the Decade" by the horse racing media. Easy Goer was favored by the wagering public based on his Belmont Stakes win and four subsequent Grade I wins, three against older horses. Sunday Silence's regular rider, Patrick Valenzuela, had recently been suspended for cocaine use, so Hall of Fame rider Chris McCarron got the mount.

After Easy Goer's summer campaign of four straight G1 wins, Sunday Silence ran twice in the five months since the Belmont, both times over a {{frac|1|1|4}}-mile distance—in the Grade II Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, where he finished second, and two months later in the Sept. 24 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, which he won, giving him six weeks rest into the Classic.

Recovering from a slow start, Easy Goer ran 11 lengths off the lead, about seven lengths behind Sunday Silence, behind the brisk opening fractions of {{frac|22|2|5}} and {{frac|46|1|5}}, but made a big run down the backstretch and got near his rival at the half-mile point. Sunday Silence then made a charge turning for home and gained the lead in the final furlong, with Easy Goer still trailing by four lengths. Easy Goer closed ground late but lost by a diminishing neck to Sunday Silence, with a final time of {{frac|2:00|1|5}}. Both Sunday Silence and Easy Goer earned brilliant 124 speed figures in the 1989 Breeders' Cup Classic, which tied for the highest speed figure earned in any Breeders' Cup race.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-10-sp-63476-story.html | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | first=Andrew | last=Beyer | title=Overacheiver [sic] Cigar Had a Mark of Consistency | date=November 10, 1996}}{{cite news|url=http://farewelltokings.com/2009/11/historical-breeders-cup-beyers/ |work=farewelltokings.com |first=Darrell |last=Lerner |title=Historical Breeders' Cup Beyers |date=November 1, 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://www.paulickreport.com/features/the-breeders-cup-forum/paulick-report-forum-brought-to-you-by-breeders-cup-talking-speed-figures-with-beyer/ |work=paulickreport.com |first=Ray |last=Paulick |title=Paulick Report Forum brought to you by Breeders' Cup: Talking Speed Figures with Beyer |date=November 17, 2010}} Blushing John, the American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse that year, finished third.

The victory assured Sunday Silence Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three-Year-Old Male Horse and Horse of the Year honors for 1989. After the race, McGaughey said, "Sunday Silence had a perfect trip and we made a couple of mistakes. Pat and I agree that he made riding mistakes in the Preakness. But in the other races, there were circumstances that contributed to what happened. Maybe when Pat grabbed him after the start, the horse didn't understand what he was doing. Then Pat was content to sit and wait behind Sunday Silence, as he had done before, and the other horse got away from us.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-06-sp-723-story.html | work=The Los Angeles Times | first=Bill | last=Christine | title=Sounds of Silence Make It Difficult for McGaughey : Horse Racing: The day after losing the Breeders' Cup Classic to Sunday Silence, Easy Goer's trainer is feeling blue. | date=November 6, 1989}} In my heart, I think Easy Goer is the better horse;{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-11-05/sports/8902080519_1_easy-goer-shug-mcgaughey-breeders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815013805/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-11-05/sports/8902080519_1_easy-goer-shug-mcgaughey-breeders |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |title=Losing The Big One Never Easy For Mcgaughey |publisher=Sun-sentinel.com |date=1989-11-05 |access-date=July 15, 2016 |first=Michael |last=Mayo}} I think anybody would say that if those two ran against each other ten times, each would probably win five."{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-10-28/sports/9202260210_1_easy-goer-shug-mcgaughey-breeders-cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826000006/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-10-28/sports/9202260210_1_easy-goer-shug-mcgaughey-breeders-cup |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 26, 2016 |title='89 Race Haunts Trainer Sunday Silence Still Casts Shadow |publisher=Sun-sentinel.com |date=October 28, 1992 |access-date=July 15, 2016 |first=Chris |last=Lazzarino}}

Day said his ride wasn't the best,{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-11-05/sports/8902080519_1_easy-goer-shug-mcgaughey-breeders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815013805/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-11-05/sports/8902080519_1_easy-goer-shug-mcgaughey-breeders |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |title=Losing The Big One Never Easy For Mcgaughey |publisher=Sun-sentinel.com |date=1989-11-05 |access-date=2016-02-14 |first=Michael |last=Mayo}} while also stating, "I've said it before, I think Easy Goer was better than Sunday Silence, despite his three to one edge in a head-to-head races.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-27-sp-737-story.html | work=The Los Angeles Times | first=Jay | last=Hovdey | title=For That Happy Traveler Sunday Silence, Getting There Is More Than Half the Fun | date=July 27, 1990}} I'll go to my grave believing that. We lost two photos to him and the one in the Preakness was due to a rider error on my part."{{cite web|url=https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2016-racings-unforgettable-rivalries-sunday-silence-and-easy-goer | work=americasbestracing.net | first=Bob | last=Ehalt | title=Racing's Unforgettable Rivalries: Sunday Silence and Easy Goer | date=June 8, 2016 | access-date=July 15, 2016}}

Easy Goer's 1989 three-year-old campaign is considered by some to be the greatest in American racing history without yielding any year-end championship awards.{{cite news |last=Crist |first=Steven |date=October 6, 1989 |title=NOTEBOOK; Easy Goer Closing In on a 3-Year-Old Season Worthy of Secretariat |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/sports/notebook-easy-goer-closing-in-on-a-3-year-old-season-worthy-of-secretariat.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm}}{{cite web| url=http://www.jockeysite.com/stories/easygoer.htm | title=Easy Goer | access-date=2024-02-28}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/08/sports/horse-racing-easy-goer-surges-to-win-gold-cup.html | work=The New York Times | first=Steven | last=Crist | title=HORSE RACING; Easy Goer Surges To Win Gold Cup | date=October 8, 1989}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.hitak.com/home/alydar/easygoer.html|title = Easy Goer}} However, debate remains today on which horse was better. With Easy Goer putting together a better racing resume, but Sunday Silence holding a 3-1 advantage when they ran against each other. Sunday Silence walked away with Eclipse Award honored for Champions Three Year Old and Horse of the Year.

On May 16, 1990, Easy Goer started the season by winning the seven-furlong Gold Stage Stakes easily on a sloppy track by over seven lengths,

Twelve days later, he was third in the Grade I Metropolitan Mile, marking the only time he did not finish either first or second in his career.

Easy Goer always had problematic ankles, and his handlers had to work overtime on them during the month. Rumors about his soundness had swirled around the track for the two weeks leading into the race.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/29/sports/criminal-type-outruns-housebuster-and-easy-goer-at-belmont.html |work=The New York Times |first=Steven | last=Crist | title=Criminal Type Outruns Housebuster and Easy Goer at Belmont | date=May 29, 1990}} Easy Goer was beaten by a little more than a length behind eventual Horse of the Year Criminal Type and two-time sprint champion Housebuster while carrying considerably more weight than those competitors (fourteen and seven pounds, respectively).

He then won the mile and a quarter Grade I Suburban Handicap by almost four lengths ridden out in a time of 2:00 after going head and head on the lead while sprinting through fast fractions of 46.75 for a half-mile and 1:09.87 for six furlongs.

After his Suburban Handicap win, Easy Goer was retired due to a bone chip in his right front ankle.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/19/sports/easy-goer-is-retired-after-bone-chip-is-found.html | work=The New York Times | first=Steven | last=Crist | title=Easy Goer Is Retired After Bone Chip Is Found | date=July 19, 1990}} He won 14 races, including 9 Grade I wins at seven furlongs, a mile, a mile and an eighth, a mile and a quarter, and a mile and a half while earning $4,873,770.

After his retirement from racing, Easy Goer stood stud at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. He was given the honor of occupying the Stall #1, which had housed Bold Ruler and Secretariat and would be the stall of a few other champions.{{cite news | url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-06-24/sports/25831272_1_fourstars-allstar-easy-goer-race-track | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518114127/http://articles.philly.com/1994-06-24/sports/25831272_1_fourstars-allstar-easy-goer-race-track | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 18, 2015 | work=The Inquirer | first=Dick | last=Jerardi | title=Reserved For Racing Legends Only Lure Could Earn Claiborne's Coveted Stall | date=June 24, 1994}}

At stud, Easy Goer sired three Grade I winners and nine stakes winners (7%), from 136 foals, of which 101 were starters, and 74 were winners. While speed at distances up to a mile had been favored over "stoutness" in much American breeding, Easy Goer demonstrated speed over a mile as well as stamina. Given the combination of his pedigree and the high-quality mares to which he was bred at Claiborne, it was speculated by The Blood-Horse that he would have been even more significant as a stallion had he lived longer. Easy Goer has also been an influential broodmare sire. From 53 mares sired by Easy Goer, they have produced 23 stakes winners.

At age eight, in 1994, Easy Goer collapsed and died while jogging in his paddock at Claiborne Farm.{{cite news|last=Lazzarino|first=Chris|title=Easy Goer Collapses, Dies|newspaper=Sun Sentinel|date=May 13, 1994|url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-05-13/sports/9405120793_1_easy-goer-trainer-shug-mcgaughey-stakes|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140326014452/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-05-13/sports/9405120793_1_easy-goer-trainer-shug-mcgaughey-stakes|url-status= dead|archive-date= March 26, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2015}} Dr. Thomas Swerczek, the veterinary pathologist at the University of Kentucky, who conducted Easy Goer's necropsy, determined the horse died of an anaphylactic reaction to an undetermined allergen and also had cancerous tumors in multiple organs. The veterinarians were convinced the cancer did not kill Easy Goer and probably would not have been fatal for a long time. They also said fatal allergic reactions are more common than most professionals realize.{{cite news|last=Lazzarino|first=Chris|title=Gambler keeps placing big bets, but he won't show|newspaper=Sun Sentinel|date=May 29, 1994|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-05-29/sports/9405280385_1_easy-goer-show-bets-las-vegas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001122/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-05-29/sports/9405280385_1_easy-goer-show-bets-las-vegas|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=May 13, 2012}} Easy Goer was buried at Claiborne Farm along with Secretariat, Buckpasser, Bold Ruler and many other greats.

Easy Goer was the sire of these G1 winners:{{cite news |title=Stallion Register |work=Blood Horse Publications |url=http://www.liontamerllc.com/cgi-bin/links.cgi?0=http://www.liontamerllc.com/pdfs/stallion-register.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=2019-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113109/http://www.liontamerllc.com/cgi-bin/links.cgi?0=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liontamerllc.com%2Fpdfs%2Fstallion-register.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04}}

• Will's Way - won the Whitney Handicap and Travers Stakes like his sire, and in turn
• Sired Lion Tamer, winner of the Cigar Mile Handicap
• My Flag - won four Grade I races, including the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Ashland Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks and Gazelle Stakes, as well as the Bonnie Miss Stakes.
• Dam of champion Storm Flag Flying, winner of the 2002 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
• Furlough - won the Ballerina Handicap

Easy Goer is the broodmare sire (maternal grandsire) of these G1 winners or producers of champions:

• Corinthian - won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, and Metropolitan Handicap
• Storm Flag Flying - Won the Eclipse Award Championship for top two year old filly and won four Grade I races, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Frizette Stakes, Matron Stakes, and Personal Ensign Handicap.
• Funny Moon - won the Coaching Club American Oaks
• Monba - won the Blue Grass Stakes.
• Astronomer Royal - won the Group I French 2000 Guineas
• Magical Fantasy - won four Grade I races, including the Yellow Ribbon Stakes, Del Mar Oaks, Gamely Stakes, and John C. Mabee Handicap.
• Mull of Kintyre - won the Gimcrack Stakes in England and sire of Araafa, winner of the St. James's Palace Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas.
• Sue's Good News - won the Arlington Oaks, and is the dam of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin and Tiz Miz Sue, who won the Ogden Phipps Handicap twice.
• Kindness - dam of Breeders' Cup Marathon winner London Bridge.
• Unbridled Jet - ranked among the leading sires in New Jersey.{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63966/nj-stallion-unbridled-jet-dies |work=Bloodhorse.com |title=NJ Stallion Unbridled Jet dies |date=July 11, 2011}}
• Unbridled Secret - dam of Barbara Fritchie Handicap winner My Wandy's Girl, who also was a champion three year old in Puerto Rico.
• With Flying Colors - stakes-winning dam of multiple graded stakes winner Teresa Z, winner of the Turnback The Alarm Handicap, Monmouth Oaks and Obeah Stakes.

Over his career, Easy Goer had many accomplishments on the track that have stood the test of time.

• 1988 - Eclipse Award as American champion 2-year-old male
• 1997 - Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.{{cite web |date=2016 |title=Easy Goer |url=https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/easy-goer |work=racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame}}
• 1999 - Ranked #34 in the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. Thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century
• 2005 - Featured on the cover of the 2005 book, "Belmont Park: A Century of Champions."{{cite book |author=Edward L. Bowen and Richard Stone Reeves |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LhVVOWZ5QR0C |title=Belmont Park: A Century of Champions |publisher=Eclipse Press Blood-Horse publications |year=2005 |isbn=9781581501223 |access-date=June 13, 2016}}
• 2006 - Easy Goer's duel with Sunday Silence in the 1989 Preakness was ranked #70 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments
• 2008 - Easy Goer's rivalry with Sunday Silence was featured as the 17th chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press)
• 2013 - One of 30 inaugural horses to be recognized on the Saratoga Hoofprints Walk of Fame.{{cite web |date=2013 |title=Hoofprints Walk of Fame at Saratoga Race Course |url=http://www.saratoga150.com/history/hoofprints/}}
• The Easy Goer Stakes ran at Belmont Stakes from 2013 - 2020.{{Cite web |last=New York Racing Association |title=Easy Goer Stakes |url=https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/stakes-schedule/winstar-farm-easy-goer/ |website=NYRA}}

• Ran the fastest mile on dirt by any three-year-old with a time of {{frac|1:32|2|5}} in the 1989 Gotham Stakes, which was one-fifth of a second off of the world record.
• Second fastest Belmont Stakes at 2:26 flat, behind Secretariat.
• First two-year-old champion to win a Triple Crown race since Spectacular Bid in 1979
• In Easy Goer's 20-race career, he was never defeated by more than {{frac|2|1|2}} lengths.

• List of racehorses

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://helloracefans.com/horses/horse-profiles/easy-goer/ Easy Goer Profile at Hello Race Fans]
• [http://www.pedigreequery.com/easy+goer Easy Goer's pedigree and photo]
• [https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/easy-goer Easy Goer's page in the Hall of Fame]
• [http://www.hitak.com/home/alydar/easygoer.html Easy Goer]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch?query=easy+goer&more=date_all Search for Easy Goer articles in the New York Times]
• {{cite web| url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1997-08-05/sports/18056890_1_easy-goer-muddy-churchill-downs-track-ogden-phipps | title=Choice For Fame Very Easy | work=New York Daily News | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612044852/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1997-08-05/sports/18056890_1_easy-goer-muddy-churchill-downs-track-ogden-phipps | archive-date=2012-06-12}}
• [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/24/sports/on-horse-racing-closing-the-chapter-on-easy-goer.html?scp=6&sq=easy%20goer%20secretariat&st=cse On Horse Racing; Closing the Chapter on Easy Goer]

{{Belmont Stakes Winners}}

Category:1986 racehorse births

Category:1994 racehorse deaths

Category:Racehorses bred in Kentucky

Category:Racehorses trained in the United States

Category:Belmont Stakes winners

Category:Eclipse Award winners

Category:United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Phipps family

Category:American Grade 1 Stakes winners

Category:Thoroughbred family 1-x

Category:Horse racing track record setters