Easy Goer Draws Far Outside Post Position : Final Derby Workout Times Bolster Comparison to Secretariat in ’73

Easy Goer, whom some compare to Secretariat, drew the No. 14 post position today--the far outside spot in the main gate--for his first major test of greatness Saturday against 15 other colts in the Kentucky Derby.

Easy Goer, who will be ridden by Pat Day, was made a 3-5 early favorite, coupled in the betting with stablemate Awe Inspiring.

An auxiliary gate will be used for the 15th and 16th post positions, occupied by 50-1 outsiders Wind Splitter and Northern Wolf.

Easy Goer’s trainer, Shug McGaughey, said he could live with the draw.

‘It Wouldn’t Be 14’

“I’m not going to worry about it,” McGaughey said. “If I picked one, it wouldn’t be 14, but all I didn’t want was No. 1 or the auxiliary gate.”

Easy Goer went through his final pre-Derby workout today in 47 1/5 seconds for a half-mile, then galloped out in a startlingly quick 59 3/5 for five-eighths of a mile.

After the workout, television cameras caught McGaughey bawling out exercise rider David Carroll for letting Easy Goer chase another horse for the second time this week.

“How could you go out there two times during Derby week and hook up with another horse?” McGaughey asked him. “You didn’t know what you were doing.”

By comparison, Secretariat’s final workout in 1973 was 58 2/5 for five-eighths. Sunday Silence, the second favorite at 3-1, worked out in 46 3/5 for the half and galloped out in 1:01 3/5 for five furlongs.

Later, McGaughey did not seem as worried about the quick gallop at the end of Easy Goer’s workout.

“I was just irritated because things didn’t go perfect,” McGaughey said. “It’s no big deal.

“That’s what he does. We’re used to it. Remember, he blew out for the Gotham in 46 1/5. It didn’t take anything out of him. I think he’s feeling excellent.

“You know, I think horses get wise to things, and I think he knows something is going to happen.”

The field, in position order with jockeys: Clever Trevor, Don Pettinger; Flying Continental, Corey Black; Western Playboy, Randy Romero; Hawkster, Marco Castaneda; Shy Tom, Chris Antley; Houston, Laffit Pincay; Dansil, Larry Snyder; Faultless Ensign, Chris de Carlo; Triple Buck, Jose Santos; Sunday Silence, Pat Valenzuela; Irish Actor, Don Howard; Notation, Herb McCauley; Awe Inspiring, Craig Perret; Easy Goer, Day; Wind Splitter, Donnie Miller, and Northern Wolf, Jo Jo Ladner.

Each starter will carry 126 pounds and, if all start, the purse will be $759,200, with $584,200 to the winner.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained entry of Houston and Shy Tom, and Harvey Vanier’s Western Playboy were listed as the 8-1 third favorites.

Charlie Whittingham, who trains Sunday Silence, said his horse is perfect. “Everything all winter is coming in order,” Whittingham said. “I guess Shug’s horse is coming up perfect, too.”

He said Sunday Silence’s No. 10 post position is fine. “In fact, anywhere in the main gate is good.”

Racing luck will play its part in the race--not just good luck, but also the absence of bad luck.

‘Hard Time Beating Him’

“If Easy Goer is lucky enough to run his race Saturday, they will have a hard time beating him,” McGaughey said. “I’m not saying they can’t beat him, but they’ll have a hard time.”

The weather is not expected to be a major factor. Mostly cloudy skies are likely for Saturday afternoon with a few sprinkles in the Louisville area, the National Weather Service reported. The temperature at post time should be in the mid-50s.

The last time there was an odds-on favorite, it was Spectacular Bid in 1979, and the field was 10.

“It’s like the Super Bowl,” Lukas said. “Imagine what would happen if the Super Bowl said anybody who wants to can play. An awful lot of people would show up. They wouldn’t win, but they’d show up.”

KENTUCKY DERBY ODDS

The field for Saturday’s 115th Kentucky Derby, with post position, horse’s name, jockey’s name and odds:

1. Clever Trevor Pettinger 30-1 2. Flying Continentl Black 30-1 3. Western Playboy Romero 8-1 4. Hawkster Castaneda 30-1 5. a-Shy Tom Antley 8-1 6. a-Houston Pincay 8-1 7. Dansil Snyder 20-1 8. Faultless Ensign DeCarlo 50-1 9. Triple Buck Santos 30-1 10. Sunday Silence Valenzuela 3-1 11. Irish Actor Howard 50-1 12. f-Notation McCauley 50-1 13. b-Awe Inspring Perret 3-5 14. b-Easy Goer Day 3-5 15. f-Wind Splitter Miller 50-1 16. f-Northern Wolf Ladner 50-1

a-D. Wayne Lukas trained entry.

b-Shug McGaughey trained entry.

f-mutuel field

Trainers (by post position): 1, Donnie K. Von Hemel. 2, Jay M. Robbins. 3, Harvey Vanier. 4, Ron McAnally. 5, D. Wayne Lukas. 6, D. Wayne Lukas. 7, Frank Brothers. 8, Ben Perkins Jr. 9, John Lenzini. 10, Charlie Whittingham. 11, LeRoy Jolley. 12, James W. Murphy. 13, Shug McGaughey. 14, Shug McGaughey. 15, Dale Capuano. 16, Hank Allen.