MIDDLEBURG, Va.--Snap Decision makes his first start this year in the $100,000, G2 Temple Gwathmey at the Middleburg Spring races, where timber star Andi'amu will also run in the $25,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup.

Snap Decision leads over last in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes last year (Photo by Tod Marks)Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher, will be ridden by Graham Watters and will carry 158 pounds, meaning he will have to give 12 pounds to Ask Paddington (Ire), trained by Keri Brion and ridden by last year's champion jockey Parker Hendriks.

Snap Decision will be giving 18 pounds to the other three entries that include Going Country (Ire), trained by Brion, Redicean, trained by last year's Leading Trainer Leslie Young and Belfast Banter, trained by Cyril Murphy.

Snap Decision's spectacular career includes nine stakes wins over fences,but he has never won the Eclipse Award, and his connections are hoping that this will be his year to do so.

When he was beaten in the past, it was by the weight he carried, and again in the Gwathmey he's being asked to give his opponents a huge weight advantage.

Post time for the Gwathmey is 2:45, immediately following the Timber Stakes where Andi'amu faces four opponents, including Storm Team, trained by Fisher, who has beaten Andi'amu twice, Mystic Strike, trained by Todd McKenna, three times winner of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, Cracker Factory, trained by Mark Beecher, and Notjudginjustsayin, trained by Fisher.

The Middlleburg card includes a Training Flat, post time 1:00 p.m., an allowance Hurdle, three Maiden Hurdles ad a Steeplethon.

 

THE $30,000 Grand National Timber Stakes, post time 2:30, has seven entries, four of which are also entered in the Maryland Hunt Cup the following week, and it looks like a wide open race that anyone might win.

The four prepping for the Hunt Cup are Withoutmoreado, trained by Kathy Neilson, Shootist, trained by Todd McKenna, Renegade River, trained by Willy Dowling and Royal Ruse, trained by Sanna Neilson, both of which ran and were beaten last week at My Lady's Manor.

Master Seville, trained by Mark Beecher, looks like he might be the one to beat in the wide open field, and Monbeg Steam (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Our Friend (Ire), trained by Joe Davies, complete the field.

The $17,400 Allowance Timber at 4 p.m., has four entries, all of which are entered in the Hunt Cup.

Great Road and Blackhall (Ire) are both trained by Davies, but probably only Blackhall might be aimed for the Hunt Cup, Hill Tie, trained by Billy Meister, and Rocket Star Red, trained by Beecher.

Also on the card are a Maiden Timber and an Apprentice Rider Timber

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