The 1989 Triple Crown Series

The 1989 Triple Crown Series

Joseph Di Rienzi

The 1989 Triple Crown series, which is marking its 30^th anniversary this year, is remembered for the contests between two exceptional horses - Easy Goer and Sunday Silence. Their clashes would compare favorably to the memorable duels between Affirmed and Alydar in 1978. It would be a classic East-West rivalry between two brilliant three year-old colts trained by two masters, Shug McGaughey and Charlie Whittingham. All other racing in 1989 would play a secondary role to these titans’ performances.

Easy Goer and Sunday Silence differed beyond geographic training base and conditioners. The former was a member of the powerful Phipps Stable that Shug McGaughey had put together in his third year at the helm. Easy Goer was a muscular dark chestnut son of Alydar from the champion mare Relaxing by Buckpasser, a pedigree that bespoke stamina and the highest class. That he was precocious as a juvenile was a pleasant surprise to McGaughey, and Easy Goer’s early promise provided Ogden Phipps and his family with dreams only a few horse owners can realistically hope to achieve.

Easy Goer began his career on August 1, 1988 under Pat Day, the only rider he would ever know, at Belmont Park, finishing second beaten a nose in a 6 furlong maiden race. He ran back 18 days later to break his maiden at Saratoga Race Course coming from just off the pace to win by 2½ lengths in fast time defeating Is It True, a D. Wayne Lukas trainee, who would be a rival throughout the year. Returning to Belmont, Easy Goer won a 6½ furlong allowance by 5½ lengths in excellent time. By now considered the best two year-old in New York, Easy Goer won the 7 furlong Cowdin Stakes by 3 lengths over Winners Laugh (another Lukas pupil). Is It True crossed the wire 1 length further back in third, but he was disqualified and placed fourth.

The Champagne Stakes was the crowning achievement for so many Phipps family stable two year-old champions, and both Easy Goer’s sire (Alydar) and dam sire (Buckpasser) had won the Champagne. In the 1988 edition of this 1 mile test, Easy Goer faced 3 foes including the persistent Is It True. Showing more early speed than in his prior starts, Easy Goer sat ominously off Is It True’s pace until Pat Day deemed him ready and then imperiously coasted to the lead to win by 4 lengths over Is It Ture in a sparkling final time.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was presumed to be a showcase for Easy Goer. However, the condition of the Churchill Downs Racetrack may have not have been conducive to a horse who would have a history of tender knees and ankles. The competition came from Is It True whom Easy Goer had thrice previously defeated. The son of Raja Baba, relishing the off going, went out to contest the lead. Under Laffit Pincay Jr., Is It True widened his advantage around the far turn. Easy Goer, off a little slowly, dropped back in the early going to be seventh but made a move around the far turn when steering between horses. Down the stretch, Is It True had an open lead, but it appeared that Easy Goer still might be able to catch him. However, the son of Alydar was not striding out fully and at the finish was second, beaten 1¼ lengths in a major upset. Excuses for Easy Goer were the muddy surface and his uncomfortableness with the Churchill Downs tight oval, two conditions that would be repeated in 1989 on the first Saturday in May. Despite this loss, Easy Goer was still voted the Eclipse Award for Male Two Year-old.

Easy Goer’s arch rival, Sunday Silence, had a less auspicious beginning. In early December 1988 at Hollywood Park, a 6 furlong allowance race would have significance for 1989. It featured the second start of the highly regarded Houston. A whopping $2.9 Million yearling purchase, this burly son of Seattle Slew was trained by the omnipresent Wayne Lukas. Winning his first start at Belmont in July 1988 by 12½ lengths, he resurfaced at Hollywood and was hard pressed to win by a head. Almost unnoticed in the attention given to Houston was the second place finisher, a lanky, almost black son of Halo with a curious stripe down his face. His name was Sunday Silence, owned by the partnership of Dr. Ernest Gaillard, Arthur B. Hancock III (his breeder), and Charlie Whittingham and trained by the legendary “Bald Eagle” himself. Sunday Silence had started his career in late October, finishing second in a maiden race at Santa Anita Park. He then followed with a 10 length romp in a similar race at Hollywood Park before his close second to Houston. Before 1989 was over, Sunday Silence would indeed serve notice.

The Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park is often a key race in the road to the Kentucky Derby. However, in 1989, the race that drew the most attention on Florida Derby Day was the 7 furlong Swale Stakes in which Easy Goer made his three year-old debut. The big son of Alydar broke slowly and fell behind more than 13 lengths. When asked to run by Pat Day, Easy Goer roared around the turn to draw away by 8¾ lengths in the fastest time for the distance at the meet.

With a victory in the Bay Shore Stakes in New York, Houston was the strong favorite in the 6 horse Santa Anita Derby field that included Sunday Silence. The son of Halo had begun the year with a sharp 6½ furlong allowance win and then scored a mild upset in the San Felipe Handicap. Sunday Silence at this stage seemed an unpolished gem showing blazing speed and some greenness but improving dramatically with each start.

Houston, after breaking a step slowly, went for the lead with Music Merci. Jockey Pat Valenzuela, aboard Sunday Silence, had his mount running smoothly in third just off the leaders. When asked to run approaching the far turn, Sunday Silence easily cruised alongside Houston and Music Merci. Around the turn, the tall son of Halo drew out, and despite shifting suddenly in mid-stretch left the field gasping in his wake. At the finish, Sunday Silence was an 11 length winner over the same two horses (Flying Continental and Music Merci) he defeated in the San Felipe. Houston tired badly and finished fifth, beaten over 16 lengths. With a near stakes record performance, Sunday Silence was bringing Charlie Whittingham back to Kentucky for a repeat victory having trained 1986 Kentucky Derby hero Ferdinand.

As impressive as Sunday Silence was in the Santa Anita Derby, the most talked about race of the day happened some hours earlier at Aqueduct Racetrack. Easy Goer, making his second start of the year in the Gotham Stakes, ran a race that drew favorable comparisons to Secretariat’s Gotham win of 1973.  Breaking well and sitting just behind a scorching pace, Easy Goer ambled to the lead at the top of the stretch and left his hapless rivals in his wake to win by 13 lengths in a time that shattered Secretariat’s stakes record and set a new Aqueduct track record for the 1 mile distance. With both Easy Goer’s and Sunday Silence’s runaway races taken in perspective, it was clear this year’s Derby had been reduced to largely a two horse contest.

Easy Goer’s final Derby prep was the Wood Memorial Stakes where he faced 5 overmatched rivals. On a track that was loose from strong headwinds down the backstretch, Easy Goer sat second just off the early pace, assumed the lead in the stretch, and with very little urging by Pat Day strove out to a 3 length win. The final time on the dull surface was slow, but Easy Goer’s connections appeared satisfied that this was the perfect prep two weeks before the Derby.

Despite the presence of Easy Goer and Sunday Silence, the field for the 115^th running of the Kentucky Derby had 15 starters. The entries included winners of the traditional prep races such as Dansil (Arkansas Derby) and Western Playboy (Blue Grass Stakes), as well as stakes placed Flying Continental, Hawkster, and Clever Trevor. After some debate, Awe Inspiring, owned by Phipps family member Ogden Mills Phipps took his place in the starting gate alongside his more vaunted stable companion. 

Derby Day was cold, wet, and miserable. It resembled the conditions last autumn for the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs, an ominous sign for the Easy Goer camp. Angel Penna Sr., the trainer of Easy Goer’s dam, Relaxing, had noted that she never liked the mud. On the other the hand, Charlie Whittingham was expressing confidence judging by the way Sunday Silence was training at Churchill Downs.

Notwithstanding the weather, the entry of Easy Goer and Awe Inspiring went off as the odds-on favorite with Sunday Silence the clear second choice. By post time the rain had stopped, but the track was muddy, deep, and tiring. Houston was sent to the lead pursued by Northern Wolf with Sunday Silence and Easy Goer taking positions near each other mid-pack. As Houston approached the far turn, Sunday Silence was sent up to challenge, and it was apparent that Easy Goer was not able to quicken with him. At the upper end of the stretch, Sunday Silence under Pat Valenzuela strove to the lead, but as he did, he began shifting left and right down the stretch. There were a pack of horses behind him, but none could take advantage of his erratic running, and, at the finish, Sunday Silence was ahead by 2½ lengths. Easy Goer, who looked well beaten in mid-stretch, found his best footing when steered inside and closed gamely to gain second by a head over his stable mate, Awe Inspiring. The race time was one of the slowest in the modern era, more an indication of the track condition than the quality of the field.

In the winner’s circle, part-owner Arthur B. Hancock III, celebrating his second Derby triumph (he had won with Gato Del Sol in 1982), marveled that he had offered Sunday Silence for sale as a yearling, but he bought him back for $17,000. Charlie Whittingham, who for so long had resisted sending horses from his California base to Kentucky, had just won his second Derby in four years. For Pat Valenzuela, this was his first classic win. The Easy Goer camp took the defeat graciously in public but privately were not convinced their colt had put forth his best effort.

 1989 Kentucky Derby
(drf.com)

The Preakness Stakes in two weeks featured Round II of the burgeoning Sunday Silence – Easy Goer rivalry with Derby runners, Dansil, Hawkster, Houston, and Northern Wolf among the 8 entries. (Awe Inspiring was entered but scratched before post time.)  Easy Goer was again the favorite; his believers willing to forgive his Churchill Downs performances, coupled with some foot issues that cast doubt on Sunday Silence’s soundness. The track was fast, so for this classic there were no worries about the surface conditions.

This Preakness was one of the most dramatic races in history, comparing well with the epic 1978 Belmont Stakes between Affirmed and Alydar. Northern Wolf and Houston contested the early lead, but Houston gained a clear advantage once the field straightened out down the backstretch. Sunday Silence was away well and assumed a position in fourth just behind the leaders. Easy Goer hopped at the start but quickly joined the field along the outside tracking Sunday Silence. Making a bold move halfway down the backstretch, Easy Goer, under Pat Day, swept by Sunday Silence to contest the lead with Houston. Around the far turn, Pat Valenzuela asked Sunday Silence for his run, and he readily went up to challenge Easy Goer on the outside for the lead. Down the stretch they were like two heavyweight boxers, exchanging punches toe to toe. For an instant, it looked like Sunday Silence would pull away, but then Easy Goer under Day’s whipping fought back to gain a slight advantage. Valenzuela shifted Sunday Silence closer to Easy Goer brushing him several times and forcing him close to the rail. In a desperate finish, Sunday Silence’s nose was in front. A foul claim by Pat Day for interference down the stretch was not allowed. The final time was excellent, indicating the powerful races run by the first two finishers.  

1989 Preakness Stakes
(bloodhorse.com)

Now, the son of Halo had won the first two classics, and it was on to the Belmont Stakes for immortality, plus a $5 million dollar bonus, if Sunday Silence should complete the Triple Crown. However, Shug McGaughey and the Phipps Stable were not ready to concede the Belmont to their rival and would prepare Easy Goer for another assault against Sunday Silence.

The lead up to the Belmont was all about Sunday Silence’s quest for the Triple Crown. He had defeated Easy Goer twice, and the general consensus was he would do it again, especially in that he would have an early pace advantage in the 1½ mile race as Affirmed had over Alydar. An intriguing entry in the 10 horse field was Le Voyageur, a French raced colt with a distinguished American pedigree. (He was the son of Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew and champion filly Davona Dale.). Although his French form did not project him as a major contender, he would play a key role in the outcome. While Sunday Silence ruled as the favorite, there was considerable support for Easy Goer, the reasoning being Belmont Park was Easy Goer’s home track, and the long striding colt would appreciate its sweeping turns.

As the field left the starting gate, Pat Valenzuela urged Sunday Silence forward, but to almost everyone’s surprise, he was out sprinted to the first turn by Le Voyageur. Pat Day on Easy Goer was committed to tracking Sunday Silence, and the big chestnut assumed a position just behind the Derby-Preakness winner in third place. The early fractions carved out by the French raced horse were relatively fast, but the two major contenders were sitting comfortably off the pace. Down the backstretch, the positions were unchanged, but as the field approached the long final turn, Sunday Silence started creeping up on Le Voyageur. Almost at the moment he collared the leader, Pat Day asked Easy Goer for run, and he came with a bold rush to challenge the two leaders. As they straightened out for the stretch drive, it was clear that Easy Goer was going the best, and he quickly dispatched both Sunday Silence and Le Voyageur as his superior stamina led him to a resounding 8 length victory. Sunday Silence edged away from the pesky Le Voyageur to gain second place by 1 length (and claim the $1 million consolation bonus). The final time was the second best in history as only Secretariat had run a faster Belmont Stakes.

1989 Belmont Stakes
(Mark Lennihan/AP)

In the winner’s circle, a jubilant Ogden Phipps incredulously celebrated his first classic victory. In spite of all the champions and great horses he bred and raced including Buckpasser and Personal Ensign, Easy Goer’s win in the Belmont Stakes was in his words, “my greatest thrill”.  For Shug McGaughey, this win was another gem in a budding Hall of Fame career, and for Pat Day, a retribution for criticism for his ride in the Preakness. Finally for Easy Goer’s sire Alydar, some consolation that his son accomplished what the father could not do, namely thwart a Triple Crown bid. 

With champion three year-old and Horse of the Year Honors unsettled, there was great anticipation for the remainder of 1989 for another meeting between the Triple Crown antagonists. Easy Goer and Sunday Silence returned to their respective training bases on opposite coasts, so their climatic meeting would be no sooner than the Breeders’ Cup Classic held on November 4 at Gulfstream Park. The Phipps color bearer stayed in New York and dominated, winning in succession such venerable races as the Whitney Handicap, Travers Stakes, Woodward Handicap, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Sunday Silence, on the other hand, suffered a shocking defeat in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park to Prized. Shipped to Louisiana in September, the almost black colt showed his true form in defeating Awe Inspiring by 6 lengths in the Super Derby.

In the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Chris McCarron was now the rider of Sunday Silence in that Pat Valenzuela was serving a suspension due to repeated drug abuse that has continued to plague him throughout his riding career. In the Classic, McCarron used his mount’s acceleration to make a quick move around the Gulfstream Park far turn that Easy Goer could not match. At the top of the stretch, Sunday Silence readily gained the lead as Easy Goer mounted a desperate challenge once in the straight. In the last ½ furlong, Easy Goer closed considerable ground but fell short by a neck at the finish. So with this result, Three Year-old Champion and Horse of the Year was given to Sunday Silence.

Easy Goer and Sunday Silence would both race briefly as four year-olds but never met again. Shug McGaughey, despite the 3-1 record of Sunday Silence against Easy Goer, has never conceded superiority. I would have to say I concur. I do accept that Sunday Silence was Horse of the Year in 1989, but I do not believe he was a better horse than Easy Goer.