Title: Abaan Triumphs Over Snap Decision in Thrilling 84th Iroquois Steeplechase

Abaan holds off Snap Decision to win 84th Iroquois Steeplechase

Abaan was able to hold off three-time Iroquois Steeplechase winner Snap Decision in the 84th running of the event at Percy Warner Park on May 10. Abaan won the 84th Iroquois Steeplechase, defeating three-time winner Snap Decision. Several horses and jockeys fell during the race, but Abaan and Snap Decision avoided the chaos.

Snap Decision ran past trouble in his quest to make history in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Steeplechase on May 10, but was unable to beat Abaan to the finish line in the Grade I stakes race at Percy Warner Park. A crowd of 25,000 watched Abaan, who joined Snap Decision in dodging a domino tumble of three horses and jockeys late in the 3-mile race over 16 national fences, sprint to victory in 5:42:00 in the 84th annual event.

Snap Decision, an 11-year-old gelding, was trying to become the winningest horse in Iroquois history. After winning in 2021 and 2022, he became only the second three-time winner in 2024, joining Uncle Edwin, who won in 1982, 1985 and 1986. Abaan had served notice after finishing second by a neck to Snap Decision on April 19 at The Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg, Virginia.

"There is no horse that tried harder than Snap Decision, and Abaan is a fantastic horse," said Mike Hankin, who along with Charlie Fenwick and Charlie Noell are partners in Bruton Street-US as owners of Snap Decision. "Trainer-jockey duo of Kate and Bernie Dalton, they were second to Snap three weeks ago and they beat him (May 10) fair and square. We have a lot of respect for them. But it’s been an incredible honor to be in Snap’s world."

Abaan, an 8-year-old gelding, and Snap Decision ran behind the leaders for most of the race with Foxy Walk, local favorite Vae Patron from Leipers Fork Steeplechase, and Zabeel Champion in the lead. That didn’t change until Snap Decision, who had fallen to sixth at one point, picked up his pace heading down the back straight for the final time, and Abaan followed.

The chaos began after that. Howyabud lost his rider, Harrison Beswick, going into the final turn. Zabeel Champion then fell trying to clear the 14th fence, tossing jockey James O’Sullivan. Foxy Walk fell over Zabeel Champion, and his rider, Gerard Galligan, tumbled to the turf. Then Zarak the Brave and jockey Evan Dwan fell over Foxy Walk and Zabeel Champion.

Meanwhile, Abaan had moved ahead of Snap Decision as the two horses approached the pile of fallen horses and jockeys. "I just saw (Zabeel Champion), they were racing (with Foxy Walk), and (Zabeel Champion) was kind of flat out and I think he just stepped with his front end and kind of caught the top of (the fence)," Abaan jockey Bernie Dalton said. "We had moved to the outside going toward the last so we had a clear path."

None of the jockeys or horses involved in the collision were injured. The pileup left only Abaan and Snap Decision in contention down the final straightaway. Dalton said he remembered how strong Snap Decision finished at The Temple Gwathmey, even giving up 18 pounds to Abaan, so he pushed Abaan to the very end even after he started to pull away.

"I was concerned, especially off a level which we couldn’t beat him last time with 18 pounds, but we were hoping there was improvement in our horse," Dalton said. "I also thought the ground was riding a little dead (soft) today, which might be against Snap, and it played to our horse because he doesn’t seem to mind what the ground is."

Abaan won half of the total race purse of $250,000 in the richest event on the National Steeplechase Association spring circuit. Vae Patron finished third after being second last year in his first American race. Snap Decision is the reigning Eclipse Award winner and had already surpassed $1 million in career earnings.

"It was huge just having Snap back," Iroquois chairman Dwight Hall said. "He’s an Eclipse Award winner, 11 years old, won it three times and was going for the fourth time and he ran a great race. It was very competitive race."