by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — On Tuesday, April 10, Tough Customer was everything his name implied when Eric Goodell guided him to a second consecutive victory against the best pacers on the grounds at Monticello Raceway.

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Tough Customer cruised to his second consecutive Preferred Pace victory.

The 7-year-old Artsplace gelding again turned back a stellar field en route to a 1:55.3 victory in the weekly $14,300 Preferred Pace and in the process ended a two-race win skein by Hawaiian Hunk (Larry Stalbaum), who finished a length behind the winner in second place. Chewy Gross, the favorite in the race, was third for Stephane Bouchard.

When the gate sprung, Goodell aimed his pacer for the lead, but Ray Schnittker had the same idea with Skeeter Todd. And because Skeeter Todd started from post four he had position on Tough Customer (post five) and carried him to the quarter in :28.2 before he yielded the lead.

From there it was all Tough Customer, who continued on the front-end and led the field past the half in :57.4 and the three-quarters in 1:26.4. Tough Customer was still two lengths in front in the final turn and coasted home a 1-1/4 length winner.

Though Tough Customer had been racing well this season, over the past few weeks Goodell felt he wasn’t giving his all.

Two starts ago Goodell mentioned to trainer Peggy Cardassi that Tough Customer seemed to be losing interest and that maybe a change of equipment might be in order. So together they decided to try something different.

“Last week we changed from an open bridle to a closed bridle which we thought would keep him (Tough Customer) more interested and it proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered when he went wire-to-wire and won in 1:54.2,” Goodell said. “And this week we made changes again; switched back from closed to an open bridle and hooked him to a different bike and once again he wired the field. I’m not sure what we might do next week but right now Tough Customer thinks he can beat anybody.”

Owned by Gary Tecler of Lakeland, Fla., Tough Customer paid $8.80 for win and raised his seasonal bankroll to over $47,000.

The co-featured $11,900 Winners Over Pace went to Presidential Skam and driver Matt Romano in a 1:56.4 clocking.

Greg Merton cut speedy early fractions with Top Flight, but his pacer tired a bit in the lane. Romano, who had Presidential Skam racing along in fourth place, moved to the outside at the three-quarters and after passing two horses scurried back to the pylons and then took advantage of the passing lane to overtake Top Flight and win a head decision in a photo finish.

Owned by Karl Henry Dildine of Collegeville, Pa., and trained by Tom Gummerson, Presidential Skam paid $28.80, $10.80 and $7.40 across the board.