Arapahoe Park: Dance to the Star wins Mount Elbert Stakes for third time

Dance to the Star won the $44,015 Mount Elbert Stakes for the third time Sunday at Arapahoe Park, where he led throughout for a 5 3/4-length victory over Magical Twist. It was another half-length back to Wally Van in third.

Dance to the Star’s other wins in the Mount Elbert, a 1 1/16-mile race for Colorado-breds, came in 2010 and 2012. He was a slight favorite Sunday over Wally Van, who won the race in 2011.

Dance to the Star ($4.60) was in command throughout Sunday, taking the field through fractions of 24.08 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 48.25 for the half-mile, and 1:12.91 for six furlongs. He went on to cover the distance on a track rated “good” in 1:44.56.

Luis Rodriguez was aboard for owner Francis Heckendorf Jr. and trainer Kenneth Gleason.