Tim Tetrick further strengthened his stranglehold on the seasonal victory standings for drivers when he won the two featured races during the Friday afternoon (Dec. 2) card at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

In the $22,500 fast-class handicap trot, Stormy Kromer exhibited the form that had carried him to two recent wins in Open company at Yonkers, setting all the pace in winning by 2-3/4 lengths over pocket-sitter Focus Pocus in 1:52.4. The victorious Dejarmbro gelding put up fractions of :27.1, :56 and 1:23.4 while notching his 11th win of the year, putting his seasonal bankroll at $247,975 and his lifetime earnings at $791,849 for trainer Paul Stafford and owner Thomas Ceraso Jr.

In the $15,300 co-feature for developing trotters, Tetrick kept the sophomore Cantab Hall gelding Outside The Fire behind pacesetter P L Notsonice, who set fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:25.2, came out on the far turn then edged away from that rival to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1. The winner of $100,538 is trained by Anette Lorentzon, who also co-owns with ACL Stuteri AB.

Tetrick and George Napolitano Jr. drove the winners of the Late Double to tie at the top of the drivers list on the day with four victories.

Live harness racing will resume at Philly on Sunday at 12:40 p.m., with a mix of pacing features for the fast-class horses, developing youngsters and high-priced claimers. 

(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)