Mr. Coach wins leg 4 of starter series

Mr. Coach rallied from just off the leaders to capture Tuesday's fourth leg of the Don K. Memorial Turf Starter Handicap series under Gabriel Lagunes. Mr. Coach was runner-up to the mare Princess Composer June 10 in his only other start in the series, leg 3, which was moved from turf to the main track.

The three-quarter-length victory was the first victory in three starts at the meet for Mr. Coach, a 5-year-old trained Stephen Dunn. The 3-1 second choice in the field of 8, Mr. Coach returned $8.40. The series concludes on closing day, July 8, with leg 5 set to be contested at a mile and three-eighths.

* The races for leading trainer and jockey appear headed for a photo finish with two weeks remaining in the season. Gary Patrick won a pair of races last Saturday and holds a 22-19 edge over Kim Hammond in the trainers race. A handful of others are right behind, as Tracey Wisner has saddled 17 winners, while Barb McBride and defending champ Ralph Martinez are tied at 16 wins apiece.

The jockey race was deadlocked through Tuesday's racing with Victor Lebron and Orlando Mojica sharing the top spot at 54 wins each. Mojica sat out a three-day suspension Monday through Wednesday of this week but was named on horses for Friday.