Snap Decision battled home on top in a driving finish to finally land his elusive win in the Grade 1 $250,000 American Grand National Stakes at Far Hills.

This was Snap Decision's fourth straight appearance in the American Grand National steeplechase. He finished second in the race in 2021 and sixth in 2022 and was pulled up in last year's running. He would not be denied a fourth time.

Snap Decision (right) fends off challengers. (Far Hills/Skip Dickstein)

Snap Decision, a 10-year-old gelding by the sire Hard Spun, settled in fifth after the first mile of the 2 5/8-mile steeplechase and then moved up to second behind Frontline Citizen, who led through the first 2 1/4 miles. Jockey Graham Watters moved Snap Decision to the front out of the far turn and led the field over the final jump but was collared in the stretch by High Definition to his outside and favored Galvin to his inside. After being headed by both rivals, Snap Decision gamely battled back late to secure victory by a neck in a three-horse photo finish.

Galvin finished in second and 16-1 shot High Definition was another neck back in third. The final time of the race was 5:02.86 on the firm course.

Bred by Phipps Stable, Snap Decision was Grade 3-placed on the flat for his trainer, Shug McGaughey, but took his talents to another level when switched to jump racing in April 2019 for his current connections, owner Bruton Street and Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher.

Snap Decision has earned a 16-7-2 record in 28 starts over jumps, including nine graded stakes wins and earnings of $1,133,400.

Second in the Eclipse Award voting for champion steeplechase horse last year, Snap Decision is the leading candidate for that honor this season. The gelding has three wins in four starts, all in graded races, including a win in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes in May. His lone loss this year was a third-place finish over soft ground in the Mariann De Tejeda Memorial Stakes. -- Nicole Stafford