Mountaineer track report

Horses returning for the first time after being claimed are doing well at Mountaineer Park.

Last Friday, Harold Gensler saddled Storm the Net ($17.40), taken for $15,000 when he finished fourth on March 24, to win for twice that price.

In the second part of Monday's early double, Forbetterorworse, claimed at the bottom by trainer Ludwig Lamm, fired when in for the same $4,000 claiming price as the 6-5 favorite.

Later on the same card, Sataniste ($4.20) survived an extended speed duel and gave trainer Ed Cash his first win of the season. The stakes-placed Sataniste handled the rise from $12,500 to $30,000 in claiming price.

The trend continued Tuesday night when Henry Fix scored with Soteras Queen ($44.60), the second-longest shot in an eight-horse field of $10,000 claimers. In her previous start, Soteras Queen had finished a well-beaten eighth at the same level.

Fix has a reputation for getting dramatic improvement out of horses moving into his barn. Several years ago, he claimed Corey's Minstrel for $4,000 and the horse went on to win 15 races and about $150,000.

* Trainer James Knepper won both halves of Sunday's early double with Flying Combat ($25.80) and Venusinorbit ($6.80). For the spring meet, Knepper has four wins from just eight starts and is tied for third in the standings.