I never gave an endorsement to Shug my endorsement was to Claiborne and their recommendation on the quality of stock they recognized the Phipps had.

I totally agree on your assessment of Shugs handling of Easy Goer as I was a huge fan of him myself. However, I do think the Phipps and their loyalty to NYRA deserves some of the blame. They insisted their horses run in those races in NY when at the time the JCGC was a mile and one-half race prepping for a mile and a quarter BC run at speed favoring Gulfstream Park. Also I believe the spacing between the races was an issue.When Goer breezed a half mile in 50 flat three days before the race, the race was effectively over. Goer walked out of the gate day and Pat Day is still being blamed for the race.

As far as Shugs use of Pat Day, there was in the minds of Kentuckians Bluebloods back then of a jockey colony mafia in NY with stories of FIXED TRIPLES,etc. When Shug moved up there he wanted HIS GUYS riding his horses. That also explains how Romero ended up being the regular rider of Personal Ensign.