Arapahoe Park: Rodriguez, Gleason team to win pair of Sunday stakes

Jockey Luis Rodriguez and trainer Kenneth Gleason swept both Thoroughbred stakes run Sunday at Arapahoe Park, when they teamed to win the $35,000 Mount Elbert with Dance to the Star and the $40,663 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Oaks with Miss Suzannah.

Dance to the Star ($11.80) tracked the pace in second in the Mount Elbert for 3-year-olds and up bred in Colorado, then drove to a half-length win over 3-5 favorite and defending champ Wally Van. Dance to the Star covered the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated fast in 1:44.75. Dance to the Star is a 6-year-old by Soto, and he races for his breeder, Francis A. Heckendorf.

Miss Suzannah ($16.20), who had been beaten by double digits in each of her four starts heading into the CTBA Oaks, won her two-turn debut in the race when she darted to a 1 1/2-length victory over Sandhill Lady. Miss Suzannah covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:46.41. She earned $24,380 for her owner and breeder, Tangarae Farms.

* Arapahoe on Sunday announced overnight purses will be increased $1,000 a race through the end of the season on Aug. 19. Officials said the boost was due to an increase in handle.