Too Tough Pete stuns Genesee Valley rivals

Too Tough Pete, the longest shot on the board at 20-1, challenged the pacesetter at the midway point on the second turn and pulled clear in the stretch to score a 3 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Genesee Valley Breeders’ Handicap for New York-breds at Finger Lakes.

Jockey Paul Nicol Jr. kept Too Tough Pete just off Remarkable Storm as he set early fractions 23.37 seconds, 47.73, and 1:12.31 in the 1 1/16-mile race. Too Tough Pete moved to the front on the final turn and was three lengths clear at the top of the stretch.

Ruffino, the 9-5 favorite off a fourth-place finish in the Evan Shipman at Saratoga on July 26, was just behind Remarkable Storm and Too Tough Pete on backstretch. Ruffino made a two-wide bid on the turn but couldn’t catch Too Tough Pete, finishing second, a length in front of Beijing House. Remarkable Storm faded to finish last in the field of nine.

Too Tough Pete completed the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track 1:46.08. He returned $42.40.

Owned and trained by John Salvato, Too Tough Pete found his way to the winner’s circle for the first time in 11 months. The win increased the 5-year-old gelding’s record to 10-2-2 in 25 career starts and boosted his bankroll to $196,841.