Arapahoe Park: He’s a Rockstar challenging local hero Get Happy Mister in Gold Rush Futurity

A mix of 2-year-olds from Iowa, Kentucky, and Southern California have gathered in Colorado for the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity, the richest Thoroughbred race of the Arapahoe Park meet that closes on Sunday. Awaiting the shippers is local favorite Get Happy Mister, a winner of all three of his starts by a combined margin of 22 lengths.

“He’s sure been beating them awfully handily,” said trainer Randy Morse, who will counter with He’s a Rockstar.

He’s a Rockstar was the favorite in the $75,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile at Prairie Meadows in his last start July 21. He dueled and finished third, a half-length behind winner Mr. Jawbreaker, and a neck behind runner-up Mylute.

“Those were decent horses in Iowa,” said Morse. “That colt that won, I think he’s a good horse, and the colt that ran second – he was a maiden – he came back and won real easy at Arlington.

He’s a Rockstar,” Morse said, “ran good. He’d just had [one] race, and I think he came up a little short. He only got beat two necks. He ran hard.”

He’s a Rockstar came into the Prairie Gold off a maiden special weight win over 4 1/2 furlongs June 21. He won his debut by three-quarters of a length in a sharp effort that sent him to post as the 2-1 favorite for the Prairie Gold. For the Gold Rush, a six-furlong race that drew 12, He’s a Rockstar will break from post 10.

“He’s pretty quick,” said Morse. “We’ll have to see what he does. It’s hard to judge 2-year-olds. But he is pretty quick, and I expect him to be close to the front end.”

Glen Murphy has the mount on He’s a Rockstar, a son of Rockport Harbor who races for Randy Patterson.

Manewal, Miceli, and R S Watson all last raced in Southern California. Manewal was a $50,000 claim out of a maiden race at Del Mar on July 27. He dominated by four lengths, and for the Gold Rush new trainer Cody Autrey has given the mount to Patrick Valenzuela. Miceli, a maiden winner at Betfair Hollywood Park, and R S Watson, third in a maiden race at the same track May 6, are both trained by Adam Kitchingman, who won last year’s Gold Rush with Chips All In.

Anillo, the runner-up in a maiden special weight at Ellis Park on July 28, is the other out-of-state invader.

◗ Also on the card is the Grade 2, $130,000 Mile High Futurity for Quarter Horses.