Mountaineer track report

By winning four races on back-to-back cards at Mountaineer Park last weekend, jockey Dana Whitney has taken a commanding lead in the rider standings after 12 days of the winter meet.

Whitney has ridden 24 winners in 94 mounts, more than twice the number of winners of distant runner-up Gary Birzer, who has 10.

Among the trainers, despite being shut out on Monday and Tuesday, Dale Baird maintains a 12-5 lead over Gary Johnson.

- Trainer Scott Lake, last year's national leader, saddled his first-ever winner at Mountaineer when French Teacher ($4.80) cruised to a 4 3/4-length victory in last Saturday's $41,600 allowance feature. French Teacher, a 6-year-old mare shipping in from Laurel Park, earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for her win.

- Speed remains the best path to the winner's circle. Last week, 33 of 40 winners made their move while within two lengths of the lead at the pre-stretch call.