Maywood, IL --- When it comes to racing at Maywood Park, maybe the cliché should be changed to say: "When the going gets tough, then ‘Tuff Guy’ gets going."

Handicapped with the eight hole and with plenty of other speed inside of him, C'Mon Tuff Guy (Ryan Anderson) still got the job done for the third straight time on this half-miler when he made it back-to-back wins in the Free For All ranks in Friday night's $17,500 feature.

You could say the ninth race headliner was decided midway through the first turn.

The Ryan Dailey trainee was hustled hard when the starting car pulled away but from inside of him, Brooklet's Redneck (Brent Holland) and Dirty Dreamer (Andy Miller) went out just as quickly.

As these three horses sped into the first turn, Anderson took C'Mon Tuff Guy to the inside behind Brooklets Redneck. Ryan’s decision turned out to be the winning move.

The 9-5 favorite Dirty Dreamer couldn't clear and get command and was parked-out for most of the mile, while "Tuff Guy" followed the leader, found racing room in the open stretch, and gained a head victory over Honus Hylight (Dave Magee). Almahurst Frontier (Ken Holliday) took third, one-half length behind the winner.

"We were rolling out of there," said Ryan Anderson. "When I saw :26³, I knew we were trucking. I didn't think Holland (Brooklets Redneck) was going to give up the lead and I thought Andy (Miller, Dirty Dreamer) was going to try for the front, so I ducked my horse into the hole behind Holland when I had the chance.”

After a :55:4 half, Brooklets Redneck was slowed down to a 1:26³ three-quarter time, enabling the field to bunch-up, and leaving the 20-year-old Anderson at the lines of a horse that had nowhere to go.

"We lost all of our momentum,” continued Anderson. “I was sure glad he (Brooklets Redneck) carried be to the open stretch. Once we got there, I re-gassed my horse and he hung on."

Despite being the fastest male horse (1:51² last Oct. 13) in the track's 54-year history and coming off an easy two and three-quarter length victory a week ago in the Free For All ranks, C'mon Tuff Guy went off at 5-2 odds and paid $7.80.

The 9-year-old gelding will get at least two weeks rest.

"When the free for all goes to Balmoral Saturday, don't look for this horse. He's not going. He's so tough and so good on this track that when the condition sheet comes out at Maywood and it says ‘Free For All’ his name should always be listed," said Ryan with a laugh.