Get Happy Mister looks to stay perfect at track with Mount Elbert Stakes

Get Happy Mister will be making a rare start around two turns Sunday, when he attempts to extend his record over the Arapahoe Park surface to 8 for 8 in the $40,000 Mount Elbert Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile race is restricted to Colorado-bred horses 3-year-olds and up.

Get Happy Mister has been unbeatable at Arapahoe since his 2-year-old season in 2012, when he won all four of his races over the local oval by a combined margin of 31 1/4 lengths. This meet at 4, he’s won three sprint stakes in his last three starts, his latest in open company in the $40,000 Front Range Stakes at seven furlongs on June 29. The move back to two turns should suit the horse, said Butch Gleason, who trains Get Happy Mister for Annette Bishop.

“I think he’ll love it,” Gleason said. “He trains like he wants to go further.”

Gleason also said Get Happy Mister is a growing horse, getting bigger, wider, and heavier.

The Elbert is one of two final meet objectives for Get Happy Mister, with the other being the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic, said Gleason.

Key contenders

Get Happy Mister (Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-61)

* He is clearly the horse to beat due to his perfect record at Arapahoe.

* The son of First Samurai is a stakes winner around two turns, having captured the $100,000 Northern Spur at a mile at Oaklawn in 2013.

* A horse he defeated last out returned in his next start to win an allowance at Arapahoe.

Wally Van (Last 3 Beyers: 58-85-90)

* He’s a horse for course, with a 10-for-20 record at Arapahoe.

* He’s a multiple stakes winner at two turns, and among his wins is a past running of the Mount Elbert.