2022 Eclipse Awards: Snap Decision

From the big race of the spring to the showcase stakes of the summer, Snap Decision took his customary position as a leader in the American steeplechase division in 2022.

All that was missing was a major stakes win in the fall.

Snap Decision, an 8-year-old in 2022, accomplished enough to gain a position as a leading finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding steeplechaser, the third consecutive year the gelding has been nominated.

Snap Decision was the only two-time Grade 1 winner in 2022 in American jump racing.

:: Full list of 2022 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Owned by the Bruton Street-US partnership of Mike Hankin, Charlie Fenwick, and Charlie Noell and trained by Jack Fisher, Snap Decision won 2 of 5 starts over obstacles in 2022.

Snap Decision’s season began with a second in the Grade 2 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle at 2 1/2 miles in Virginia in April, a race he won in 2021. The Gwathmey served as a prep for an easy win in the Grade 1 Iroquois Hurdle by 7 1/4 lengths at three miles on May 14 at Nashville.

After a third in the Colonial Cup at 1 1/2 miles on the flat on July 27 at Colonial Downs in Virginia, Snap Decision ran arguably the best race of his career, winning the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard Hurdle at 2 3/8 miles by 13 1/4 lengths on Aug. 17 at Saratoga.

Snap Decision was not only the 164-pound highweight, but the 1-2 favorite. He led throughout under regular rider Graham Watters.

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“He’s got the biggest engine by far of any horse I’ve ever ridden,” Watters said after the race. “I just let him use it. Simple.”

Watters was 30 when he won the Sheppard and was left wondering if he will find another mount in his career as talented as Snap Decision.

“He’s a horse of a lifetime and if I’m just mentioning the horse’s name, I get emotional about him,” he said. “He’s an absolute legend of an animal. I’ll never come across another one of him.

“I’ve just got to soak it up.”

Fisher advised Watters to be prominent early if the pace was reasonable.

“I told him, ‘Don’t go crazy fast if they want to go crazy fast,’ ” Fisher said. “If not, just go and be on the lead and say, ‘Come and get me.’ ”

Snap Decision had two starts after Labor Day with mixed results. He was second by nine lengths to the upstart Noah And The Ark in the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Hurdle on Sept. 15 at the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting. Snap Decision carried 168 pounds, while Noah And The Ark carried 140 pounds.

Snap Decision finished the year with a disappointing sixth in the Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle Stakes on Oct. 15 at Far Hills in New Jersey, failing to run his race in the final half-mile.

For the year, Snap Decision earned $220,500, the most for an American-based jumper.

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