Get Happy Mister continues win streak in Arapahoe Classic

Get Happy Mister improved his Arapahoe Park record to 9 for 9 on Saturday, when he rallied into a quick pace for a 2 3/4-length win over Magical Twist in the track’s $100,000 Classic. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Leadem in Ken.

Get Happy Mister made his career debut at Arapahoe Park in 2012, and won all four of his starts at the Aurora, Colo., track that season. He has gone 5 for 5 at the current meet that closes Sunday, with the 1 1/8-mile Classic his fifth consecutive win in a streak that started May 26.

Get Happy Mister ($5.40) on Saturday settled into third behind favorite Grand Transport and 23-1 shot Magical Twist, as that pair dueled through fractions of 22.86 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.55 for the half-mile. Get Happy Mister began to advance into the final turn, and was in command through six furlongs in 1:10.39. In the stretch, he comfortably kept a closing Leadem in Ken at bay to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:51.22.

Mike Ziegler was aboard Get Happy Mister for Annette Bishop and trainer Butch Gleason.

Get Happy Mister has now won 10 of 13 career starts, with the $60,000 first-place check from the Classic pushing his career earnings to $324,928. He is a 4-year-old gelding by First Samurai and was bred in Colorado by Willard Burbach.