MIDDLEBURG,Va.--Snap Decision won the G2, $100,00, 2 1/2 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Stakes for a record fourth time at the Middleburg Spring Races on Saturday, April 19.
Snap Decision leads over the last in theTemple Gwathmey (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Bruton Street-US, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, Snap won by a neck in 5:28 2/5 over Abaan, trained by Kate Dalton, and Who's Counting, trained by Sean McDermott.
"This was one of the most competitive Temple Gwathmey's that's happened in my time," said Watters. "The race didn't go according to plan, Snap started a little slow. I went three or four wide to avoid other horses. He jumped his way into the lead two out, and he winged the last,but then Abaan came running. Snap was giving him a lot of weight."
Snap was giving Abaan 18 pounds, and other horses 10 to 24 pounds.
"Abaan is a terrific horse,"said Mike Hankin, a co-owner with Charlie Fenwick and Charlie Noell in Bruton Street. "Snap lives in Snap's world, and we're lucky to be in it. He's a horse of a lifetime."
"Snap loves to train," said Hankin. "He has to be turned out at night. If he has to stay in at night he gets really unhappy."
If he wins the Iroquois, and then if he wakes up in the morning and wants to train, we'll go on," said Hankin.
FISHER also trained the winner of the co-featured $30,000, 3 1/4 mile Middleburg Hunt Cup Timber Stakes with Mrs.John R.S. Fisher's Keys Discount.
Keys Discount, also ridden by Watters, won by 2 lengths in 6:51 2/5 over Uco Valley (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Family Tree GB), trained by Neil Morris.
"I bought him as I was looking for a horse for my Mother," said Fisher. "He'll go next to the Gold Cup."
After winning the two features, Watters was badly hurt when the horse he was riding in the next race fell.
He had to be medi-vaced out by helicopter, but those who have since talked to him said he wasn't too badly hurt and was released from the hospital Sunday.
Young saddled Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Walk the Warrior (Ire), ridden by Jamie Bargery, to win the $30,000 Allowance Hurdle by 1/2 length in 4:13 3/5 over St John's, trained by Fisher, and I Can Only Imagine (Ire), trained by Mark Beecher.
"I've had him a year," said Young. "He's been great, very consistent, Jamie rode him beautifully. He'll probably go to Iroquois. That's where his owners are from."
Tom Garner saddled Sullivan Bloodstock''s Korea, ridden by Evan Dwan, to win the $30,000, 2 1/8 mile Filly and Mare Maiden Hurdle by 2 lengths in 4:17 4/5 over Beautiful Gorgeous, trained by Laird George,and Bold Look, trained by Barry Foley.
Keri Brion saddled Parkland Thoroughbreds' Lord Flintshire, ridden by Steven Mulqueen, to win the $30,000, 2 1/8 mile Maiden Hurdle by 3 1/4 lengths in 4:14 over Risk Taking, trained by Julie Gomena,, and Yes Sir Jack (GB) trained by Young.
"He hasn't run over fences since 2023, as he's been running in flat races," said Brion. "He won a really fun flat race at Saratoga. We always knew he'd come back to running over fences, but we ran him on the flat while the conditions for him were great. The goal was to get him qualified for Saratoga over fences, so we've done that with this win. He has a lot of talent, so we're excited about him going to Saratoga."
Todd Wyatt saddled Ricky's Revenge to win the $35,000 Optional Maiden Starter/Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 2 3/4 lengths in 4:15 1/5 over Fouroneohsmokesh, trained by Brion, and Laker Mamba, trained by Morris.
Kathy Neilson saddled Armata Stables' Fashion Line, ridden by Gerard Galligan, to win the $20,00, 2 5/8 mile Steeplethon by 2 lengths over Wicked West, trained by Wyatt, and Mortlach, trained by Garner.
