Easy Goer (KY)

Biography

A nine-time Grade 1 winner, Easy Goer ran the second-fastest Belmont Stakes in history and set the record for the fastest mile ever recorded by a 3-year-old male on dirt, winning the 1989 Gotham Stakes in 1:32.40. 

Bred and owned by Ogden Phipps, Easy Goer was a son of Alydar out of the Buckpasser mare Relaxing, the Eclipse winner for Champion Older Female in 1981. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey and ridden by Hall of Famer Pat Day, Easy Goer arrived at the races as a 2-year-old in 1988. After finishing second in his career debut at Belmont Park, Easy Goer broke his maiden that summer at Saratoga.

In October 1988, Easy Goer won the Cowdin Stakes and Champagne Stakes at Belmont before finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. With a record of 4-2-0 from six starts and earnings of $697,500, Easy Goer won the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male. 

Easy Goer began his 3-year-old campaign with consecutive victories in the Swale, Gotham, and Wood Memorial before finishing second to Sunday Silence in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. With the Triple Crown within Sunday Silence’s reach, Easy Goer exacted his revenge in the Belmont with an eight-length victory in 2:26, the second-fastest in the race’s history behind only Secretariat.

Following the Belmont, Easy Goer traveled to Saratoga and won the Whitney against older horses before taking the Travers. Returning to Belmont Park in the fall, Easy Goer extended his win streak to five by defeating older horses in both the Woodward Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Easy Goer and Sunday Silence met once more that year in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park. Sunday Silence wrapped up Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt honors with a neck victory over Easy Goer, who finished the year with an 8-3-0 record from 11 starts and earnings of $3,837,150. Although not a champion at 3, Easy Goer became the first horse to win the Belmont, Whitney, Travers, Woodward, and Jockey Club Gold Cup, as well as the first 3-year-old to win the combination of the Whitney, Woodward, and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

As a 4-year-old, Easy Goer won the Suburban Handicap before being retired because of a bone chip in his right front ankle. He finished his career with a record of 14-5-1 from 20 starts and earnings of $4,873,770.

After his retirement from racing, Easy Goer was sent to Claiborne Farm. He sired nine stakes winners — including Grade 1 winners Will’s Way, My Flag, and Furlough — before his death in 1994.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1988

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Belmont Stakes — 1989

Notable

Won the Champagne Stakes — 1988
Won the Cowdin Stakes — 1988
Won the Gotham Stakes — 1989
Won the Jockey Club Gold Cup — 1989
Won the Swale Stakes — 1989
Won the Travers Stakes — 1989
Won the Whitney Handicap — 1989
Won the Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes — 1989
Won the Woodward Handicap — 1989
Won the Gold Stage Stakes — 1990
Won the Suburban Handicap — 1990

Horse Profile for Easy Goer | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information