Snap Determination battled dwelling on prime in a driving end to lastly land his elusive win within the Grade 1 $250,000 American Grand Nationwide Stakes at Far Hills.
This was Snap Determination’s fourth straight look within the American Grand Nationwide steeplechase. He completed second within the race in 2021 and sixth in 2022 and was pulled up in final yr’s working. He wouldn’t be denied a fourth time.
Snap Determination, a 10-year-old gelding by the sire Exhausting Spun, settled in fifth after the primary mile of the two 5/8-mile steeplechase after which moved as much as second behind Frontline Citizen, who led via the primary 2 1/4 miles. Jockey Graham Watters moved Snap Determination to the entrance out of the far flip and led the sector over the ultimate leap however was collared within the stretch by Excessive Definition to his outdoors and favored Galvin to his inside. After being headed by each rivals, Snap Determination gamely battled again late to safe victory by a neck in a three-horse picture end.
Galvin completed in second and 16-1 shot Excessive Definition was one other neck again in third. The ultimate time of the race was 5:02.86 on the agency course.
Bred by Phipps Secure, Snap Determination was Grade 3-placed on the flat for his coach, Shug McGaughey, however took his skills to a different degree when switched to leap racing in April 2019 for his present connections, proprietor Bruton Avenue and Corridor of Fame coach Jack Fisher.
Snap Determination has earned a 16-7-2 file in 28 begins over jumps, together with 9 graded stakes wins and earnings of $1,133,400.
Second within the Eclipse Award voting for champion steeplechase horse final yr, Snap Determination is the main candidate for that honor this season. The gelding has three wins in 4 begins, all in graded races, together with a win within the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes in Might. His lone loss this yr was a third-place end over tender floor within the Mariann De Tejeda Memorial Stakes. — Nicole Stafford