Storm Is Raging takes blanket finish in Philly

CHESTER, PA – Storm Is Raging (Explosive Matter), who raced well without much luck throughout August and September, got a reasonable cover trip and was along to take the $22,500 featured handicap harness racing trot at a wet Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday (Oct. 13), in a competitive event that saw the first five separated only by a length.

Double Account was first to the top around Crystal Fashion in a :27 opener, then yielding to favored Gangster Hanover only to be on the retake and getting some rest to a :57.1 half. Hayek, winner of three straight including a win in this class in his last start, took the uncovered route, with the gelding Storm Is Raging following him well before the 1:25.1 three-quarters.

Double Account still had the lead turning for home, with Gangster Hanover trying to gain inside. Hayek continued on his determined grind, Storm Is Raging tipped wide for the drive, with Crystal Fashion backing out behind the winner and going widest to the wire.

Any of the five looked to have a chance to win, with Storm Is Raging earning the 1:53.4 decision by a half a length over Crystal Fashion; Hayek was another neck back of them, and Double Account and Gangster Hanover were both just a neck off Hayek.

STORM IS RAGING REPLAY

Storm Is Raging now has 16 wins in 42 starts lifetime. Carl Cocciolone, Mark Sosovicha, and Jack Piatt III own the talented trotter, who had the red-hot teaming of driver Simon Allard and trainer Ron Burke behind him.

Unraced at two, the Father Patrick sophomore gelding Emerald’s Legacy is now seven for eleven in his career after a 1:54.2 victory in a $15,300 co-feature over a track that had turned “sloppy” a couple of races earlier.

Emerald’s Legacy sat in the pocket behind Saverio Hanover as that one set fractions of :27.4, :57.1, and 1:25.3, then rallied in the passing lane to record a half a length victory for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Scott Betts, and the ownership of Timothy Betts, Nicholas Catalano, Keith Pippi, and Shanamphilankilou Inc.

EMERALD’S LEGACY REPLAY

Simon Allard continued his recent torrid streak in the sulky into this next week – he steered home four horses first on Thursday, giving him 26 winners in the last seven racing cards at Philly.

Fast-class pacers will be the headliners on the Friday card starting at 12:25, and then on Sunday at 12:40 freshman pacing colts will start off two weeks of the John Simpson Sr. stakes series. Program pages are or will be available here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia