NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Snap Decision won the G1, $200,000, 3 mile Calvin Houghlnd Iroquois Hurdle Stakes, underlining his claim to finally win the Eclipse Award he so richly deserves.

Snap Decision, right, leads Vae Patron over the last fence in the Iroquois (Photo by Tod Marks)
Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, beat Vae Patron, trained by Leslie Young, by a neck in 5.32.

This was Vae Patron's first race in this country after having had a successful career over hurdles in France.

Fisher also saddled the third and fourth placed horses, Zabeel Champion (GB) and Sebastopol (Ire).

This was Snap Decision's second win this year after having won the G2 Temple Gwathmey at the Virginia Gold Cup by 8 lengths in April.

Vae Patron led for most of the race.

"Snap got a big jump at the second to last fence and went ahead," said Fisher. "Leslie's horse came back at him but he went on to win.There was less than 5 lengths between the top five horses.

Zabeel Champion was 1 1/4 lengths back of Vae Patron with Sebastapol another 1 1/4 lengths back, followed by Noah and the Arc in fifth, 2 1/4 lengths back, while Jimmy P was distanced.

 

"SNAP ARGUABLY  ran his best race ever," said Charlie Fenwick, who along with Mike Hankin and Charlie Noell are Bruton Street. "Snap and Leslie's horse jumped a couple of fences almost together, the Snap put his head in front, but Leslie's horse came back. I was a very close race. I couldn't have been more proud of him. He tried harder in that race than ever before."

The nation-wide weather picture before the Iroquois showed all of Tennessee under a warning for sever thunder storms and tornadoes.

"Luckily, the big rain went north and west of Nashville," said Fisher. "The course was perfect."

As Snap Decision is now 10 years old, under New York racing laws, he will not be allowed to run in the next three G1 races, the Smithwick and Jonathan Sheppard at Saratoga and the Lonesome Glory at Belmont.

That leaves two G1 races left for Snap, one at Far Hills on Oct. 19 and then the Colonial Cup in Camden, S.C., on Nov. 17.

"I won't run Snap at Far Hills if the ground is too soft," said Fisher.

Snap has been defeated by the deep going at Far Hills in the past, including in last year's race.

Kate Dalton saddled Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners's Abaan, ridden by Bernie Dalton, to win the $75,000Nove Hurdle Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths  over High Definition, trained by Young.

Fisher saddled a second winner at Iroquois, Bruton Street-US' Ziggle Pops (GB), ridden by Watters, who won the $45,000, 2 3//4 mile Ratings Handicap by 10 1/2 lengths in 5:05 over Lydford (GB), trained by Thomas Garner.

Young had three winners, including Potter Group USA's Right Tempo (Fr) in the Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes.

Right Tempo, ridden by Jamie Bargary, won the  2 1/4 mile race by 11 1/2 lengths in 4:20 over Exculpate, trained by Arch Kingsley.

Young trained both winners of the split Maiden Hurdle, taking the first section with Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Old Tom Morris, ridden by Bargary, who won by 2 1/2 lengths in 4;16 1/5 over Walk the Warrior, also trained by Young.

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Ready to Wear, ridden by Bargary, won the second section by 3/4 length in 4:17 4/5 over Snow Geese, trained by Dalton.

Keystone Thoroughbreds' Hard Strike, trained by Todd McKenna and ridden by Harry Beswick, won the $25,000. 3 mile Allowance Timber by 3/4 length over Jet Set Johnny (Ire), trained by Young.