Mountaineer track report

Bettors who follow Mountaineer only casually should be aware that any horse shipped in from Kentucky by trainer Bernie Flint is automatically a contender.

Since Oct. 1, Flint is a phenomenal 17 for 30 - 56 percent - with the horses he has run at the Chester, W.Va., oval. Although many of Flint's runners are overbet, he has shown a profitable $3.04 return on investment during his hot streak.

Last week, Flint saddled four more winners, including a pair that earned 90-plus Beyer Speed Figures.

Safe Play ($3.40), a 3-year-old gelding Flint claimed for $40,000 out of a maiden race at Keeneland in October, romped by 15 lengths and earned a 96 Beyer in a nonwinners-of-two-lifetime allowance sprint on Nov. 28.

On Dec. 3, Flint sent out the 2-year-old filly High Heritage ($3.60) to a 15 1/2-length triumph in a similar allowance sprint. Her performance was worth a Beyer of 95.

High Heritage, third in the Bassinett at River Downs in September, had not won since taking her maiden in her third career start at Ellis Park.