Finger Lakes Gaming

TOO TOUGH PETE SCORES UPSET IN GENESEE VALLEY BREEDERS' HANDICAP

Contact: David Mattice
Publicity Dept.
585-924-3232 x234
NEWS RELEASE

FARMINGTON, N.Y. – Too Tough Pete was an upset winner of the $50,000 Genesee Valley Breeders’ Handicap at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack on Saturday. The 5-year-old gelding scored a three and three-quarter length victory in the stake for New York-breds 3-years-old and up.

The $196,841 earner won the annual event in his first career attempt at a race over a mile. The John Salvato-trainee completed the one mile and one-sixteenth route in a time of 1:46.08.

"I definitely knew he could get the distance", said Salvato. "He’s a big lengthy horse and he only lost by three lengths on a surface he doesn’t like going a mile at Presque Isle."

Jockey Paul Nicol, Jr. registered his 70th stake triumph aboard the 20-1 longshot winner. Nicol continues to be the leading active jockey at Finger Lakes with 3,356 lifetime wins.

Too Tough Pete visited the winner’s circle for the tenth time in his career and paid $42.40, $13.00 and $6.90. Ruffino was second as the post time favorite and paid $4.50 and $3.40. Beijing House finished third and returned $3.30.

Earlier in the day, the annual jockey footrace was won by Gabriel Suarez. The 70-yard dash from the starting gate was held to raise money for the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund. A donation will be made by Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack to the charitable organization in recognition of the riders that participated in the event.