Injury Retires Easy Goer : Racing: The career of 4-year-old colt, winner of the 1989 Belmont, is ended because of a bone chip in his right front foot.

Easy Goer, who staged a stirring four-race duel with Sunday Silence in the 1989 Triple Crown series and Breeder’s Cup, was retired today because of a bone chip in his right front foot.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said the horse’s ankle swelled after a Sunday gallop.

“We took X-rays and sent the pictures to the vets in Kentucky,” McGaughey said today. “Monday afternoon, they told us even if you give him time and he’s sound, he won’t be 100%.

“He’d be 90% sound, but it’s not sensible to bring him back. I’m disappointed, of course.”

Assistant trainer Buzzy Tenney said: “He got a little chip on his sesamoid. It’s on the right front, on the inside. He’s not dead lame. He’s not in any real distress, but he can’t train with the chip.”

The 4-year-old colt won his last start July 4 at Belmont Park, taking the Suburban Handicap for his 14th victory in 20 career starts. The victory was worth $239,400 and pushed Easy Goer’s career earnings to $4,873,770.

Easy Goer, an Eclipse Award-winner as the 2-year-old champion, was preparing for the $1-million Arlington Challenge on Aug. 4 against Sunday Silence and Criminal Type.

The Easy Goer-Sunday Silence rivalry began at the 1989 Kentucky Derby. Easy Goer, the favorite, finished second to Sunday Silence on a muddy Churchill Downs track. Two weeks later, the order was repeated in the Preakness, where Sunday Silence won a stirring stretch duel.

That left the Belmont. But in the longest race of the spring series for 3-year-olds, Easy Goer spoiled Sunday Silence’s bid for the Triple Crown, winning the 1 1/2-mile test handily.

The Belmont was the first of five straight Grade I stakes victories for Easy Goer, an impressive comeback from the disappointments of the Derby and the Preakness. The streak ended, however, in the Breeder’s Cup at Gulfstream Park when, in a highly touted rematch, Sunday Silence beat McGaughey’s horse by a neck for his third victory in four meetings.

This year, Easy Goer won the Gold Stage at Belmont on May 16, then finished third in the Metropolitan Handicap, a race in which he went off as the 2-5 favorite.

“He just got outrun,” McGaughey said, “flat outrun.” Criminal Type won that race.

The third-place finish ended a string of six straight victories for Easy Goer at Belmont, his home track, and for the first time he was booed there.

Then, in the Suburban, he was back in front, winning by 3 3/4 lengths. He carried 126 pounds, spotting his rivals anywhere from 12 to 18 pounds, and was timed in 2:00 for the 1 1/4-mile race. It was to be his last one.