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We wanted to pass along free overnights to our IdaBet.com players for your wagering considerations on Australia and New Zealand racing.   And do not forget that $500 bucks is up for grabs every Wednesday exclusively at IdaBet.com with our IdaMatch promotion on Australia, New Zealand racing and other select tracks.

IdaBet has an extensive offering of international race tracks and we invite you to wager on them and give them a try.  The fields are big, the pools are large, and the talent is impressive. With a wide array of races and spectacular venues, it’s a great experience!  For a complete listing of tracks, please click here.  Coming soon, IdaBet.com will be adding France racing as well!

Thanks for choosing IdaBet.com and for playing Down Under and have a great week!

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We want our valued IdaBet.com players to be reminded that Keeneland’s Spring Meet kicks off Friday, April 8, with 16 great days of racing including the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1), the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1), and the  Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1).

Please note that the first post is 1:05 PM Eastern, with the exception of April 9 and April 16, when first post is 12:35 PM.  In addition to the regular wagering menu, Keeneland and NYRA have announced a new Pick Four on Saturday, April 9, consisting of two graded stakes each from Aqueduct and Keeneland.  This wager will include the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) from Keeneland, the Wood Memorial (G1) and another stakes race from Aqueduct.  This wager will be carded as a separate wagering event, hosted by Keeneland with a 19% takeout rate.

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Opening day for the Emerald Downs Season is tomorrow! The barns are full and the work tab is busy in anticipation of the best season in years.  Please watch for upcoming promotions at Emerald Downs exclusively at IdaBet.com.

Thank You for your continued support of Emerald Racing!

We wanted to share Keeneland’s Barn Notes for April 8th with you, our valued IdaBet.com players!

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

Today is opening day of Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet, which runs through Friday, April 29. First post is 1:05 p.m. ET except April 9 and April 16 when the first post is 12:35 p.m.

BONUS COVERAGE: 

• ALL TOYOTA BLUE GRASS HORSES ON THE TRACK FRIDAY AT KEENELAND
• NYQUIST WALKS SHEDROW; TO RETURN TO TRACK SATURDAY
• PROBABLE ENTRANTS FOR APRIL 14-17 STAKES
• WORK TAB
• PHIPPS FAMILY HAS LONG CONNECTION TO KEENELAND
• CENTRAL BANK’S DEATON IS A BIG KEENELAND FAN
• FOLLOW KEENELAND ON PERISCOPE
• OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

ALL TOYOTA BLUE GRASS HORSES ON THE TRACK FRIDAY AT KEENELAND

The final five horses to arrive at Keeneland on Thursday for Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) got acquainted with the main track on a brisk Friday morning.

Three of the runners – Goats Town, Lookin for a Kiss and Zapperini – arrived from Churchill Downs; Twizz came from the Trackside Training Center in Louisville; andCards of Stone came from Belmont Park.

The Toyota Blue Grass, in addition to its Grade 1 status and $1 million purse, carries 170 points toward the Kentucky Derby on a scale of 100-40-20-10 to the first- through fourth-place finishers. Post time Saturday is 6 p.m. ET.

Post 1 – Lookin for a Kiss: Michael Bruder’s Lookin for a Kiss...

Because we knew you would be interested in this if you happen to have missed the race.  Thanks for choosing IdaBet.com!

Shakhimat Leads All the Way to Win Opening-Day Transylvania

LEXINGTON, KY (April 8, 2016) – Richard Hogan and Dan Gale’s Shakhimat took the lead out of the gate, spurted away from his pursuers in the upper stretch and drew off to win the 28^th running of the $100,000 Transylvania (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select for 3-year-olds by 3 1/4 lengths over J R’s Holiday before a chilled Spring Meet opening-day crowd of 12,013.

Emma-Jayne Wilson posted her first Keeneland stakes victory on Shakhimat, who is trained by Roger Attfield. It was the second Transylvania victory for Attfield, who saddled Izvestia to win the 1990 running.

Shakimat took the lead at the break and led the field of eight through uncontested fractions of :23.54, :47.84 and 1:12.61. Turning for home, Shakhimat still owned a daylight advantage and quickly improved on that margin to comfortably prevail.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Shakhimat covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course rated as good in 1:42.65. The victory was worth $60,000 and increased Shakhimat’s earnings to $222,494 with a record of 4-3-0-1.

Shakhimat, a 3-year-old Canadian-bred son of Lonhro (AUS) out of the Touch Gold mare Reggae Rose, was making his first start since November, when he won the Coronation Futurity at Woodbine.

Shakhimat returned $14.20, $6.60 and $5. J R’s Holiday, ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, returned $6.20 and $4.20 with Inspector Lynley finishing another half-length back in third under Florent Geroux and paying $3.80 to show.

Converge finished a nose back in fourth and was followed in order by favored Catapult, One Mean Man, Prime Time Man and Sorryaboutnothing.

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On Saturday, Keeneland will offer a carryover of $7,915.12 in the Pick 6 and a Super...

If you plan on wagering on Sunland Park tonight, you might want to take a look at Eric’s picks…he has been hitting quite a few lately…and his selections might prove helpful as you compile your wager combinations.

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Sunland Park Picks, April 8th

1^st

LA MONTESA – Excellent connections.

AMALIA CARTEL – Donna McArthur trains.

DISCO DRAGON – Out of a fine mare.

2^nd

JESS BLAZIN QUEEN – Bred like a champion.

BRIDGETTE JAMES – Showed some resolve last time.

FLASH THE FORCE – First Moonflash colt with potential.

3^rd

BEST REGARDZ – Excellent breeding.

ELECTRIC CAR – No telling how fast.

FIRST TO KNOW ME – J.R. Valenzuela rides.

4^th

BANG BANG FIREBALL – Esgar Ramirez rides for Jason Giles.

YOU TELLEM VIKE – Promising filly.

DADDY QUEEN CARTEL – Great maternal breeding.

5^th

DADDYS ALLSTAR – Game 2^nd to Jess Try N Catch Me.

HEZA HARLEY CHICK – Can be any kind.

DADDYS MERLOT – Adrian A. Ramos rides.

6^th

FIRST DASHIN FLASH – Bred like a winner, dangerous.

COWGIRLSALADY – Fast works.

SHEZA VIKE – Do not overlook.

7^th

JESS TRY N CATCH ME – Sterling debut winner, the day’s best.

JESSES MASERATI – Son of Jesse James, Jr., trained by Joiner.

BIG SPURS – Comes from a solid barn.

8^th

JESS FEATUREME QUICK – Holds the class edge, stakes winner.

TESTING THE ICE – Very large bankroll.

KRU 82 – Capable of a big effort.

9^th

GRC JUSTPLAINAZOOM – Has tackled some of the best.

THIS LADY IS ON FIRE –...