Snap Decision runs away from competition in Jonathan Sheppard Steeplechase

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Weight couldn’t stop this locomotive.

Snap Decision, despite a 164-pound impost where he was conceding 11 to 24 pounds to his six rivals, absolutely dominated Wednesday’s Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap Steeplechase, scoring a 13 1/4 length front-running victory at Saratoga. Going Country, who was the lowweight at 140 pounds, finished second, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Redicean.

Belfast Banker finished fourth, followed by Song for Someone, Down Royal and Chief Justice.

Snap Decision, an 8-year-old gelding by Hard Spun and a half-brother to flat Grade 1 winner Mr Speaker, won his ninth steeplechase stakes and his third Grade 1. It also gave Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher his first victory in this race, before last year known as the New York Turf Writers Cup.

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Fisher said he typically hadn’t brought his best horses to this race because of the likelihood of a heavy weight burden. He said he opted to run Snap Decision this year in part because he felt the New York Racing Association has “been very good to steeplechase racing. … And the owners were behind me.”

Fisher and jockey Graham Watters felt the best tactics were to play catch me if you can in the Sheppard. Around the far turn first time round, Snap Decision was in front and he led at every call, opening up a 10-length margin in midstretch where the weight could have been a factor if anybody was close to Snap Decision, Watters said.

“I was worried coming down the stretch because that’s where it was going to catch him, the last furlong,” Watters said. ”But as soon as I had a look around I couldn’t believe how far away they were and how strongly he was galloping towards the line.”

Fisher said that as soon as he saw how well Snap Decision took the ninth and final fence he was confident.

“That tells me they have enough energy left,” Fisher said.

Snap Decision, owned by Bruton Street U.S., covered the 2 3/8 miles over nine National fences in 4:32.88 and returned $3.10 as the favorite.

As the field came to the wire, Watters stood up in his irons and implored the crowd to give Snap Decision some love and the crowd did cheer.

“I’m 30 years of age,” Watters said. “I’ve been riding for 15 years. “He’s a horse of a lifetime. You mention the horse’s name I get emotional about him. He’s an absolute legend of an animal. He’s a tiger. All I got to do is unleash him. I’ll never come across another one of him. I just got to soak it all up.”

Fisher said he would run Snap Decision in the Lonesome Glory Handicap on Sept. 15 at the Belmont at Aqueduct fall meet.