Join now & win money today! Get Started

NIKEELA BLACK WINS 3 MORE INCLUDING STAKES

Denny and Sandy Weigt’s Illtacmanhattan remained undefeated in five starts by capturing the $44,010 John Deere Sandy Downs Challenge Finals for two-year-old quarterhorses at 350 yards at Sandy Downs on Saturday.  With hot jockey Nikeela Black aboard, the filly went wire to wire in 17.579 in a field of eight.  Trained by Monty Arrossa, Illtacmanhattan paid 5.20 to win and increased her maiden season earnings to nearly $44,000.  Jockey Black had three wins and a second in four mounts over the two-day 15 race weekend.  She graduated on May 14 with a J.D. degree from the University of Idaho and is preparing to take the bar while notching an impressive 7 wins from 12 starts in the current Sandy Downs meet.

Saturday’s co-feature, the $36,630 Adequan Sandy Downs Derby Challenge for three-year-olds was won by Classic Bush with Robert Webb in the irons. The Washington-bred gelding won for the fourth time in five outings this year and is now 7 for 16 in his two year racing career.  Classic Bush dueled with runner up Lajolla Famosa to cross the wire by a neck and returning $13.00 to win.  The 400 yards stake was run in 19.716 seconds.

Also on Saturday’s card, Flyin Rose set a track record in breaking her maiden in her debut performance.  The 2-year-old filly romped to a 4 ¾ victory in just 15.246 seconds for the 300 yards test.  Paul Greene was up for one of his three weekend winners.  The Idaho-bred owned by Dennie and Kris Hill went off as the favorite and returned $3.40 to win.

RACING TAKES A BREAK…RETURNS JULY 8

Racing will take the long holiday weekend off and return on Friday and Saturday, July 8 & 9.  Live racing continues through July 30.

Fans that can’t make it to the track in the area can watch and wager at the Turf Club at...

Melissa and her best gal pal Ida are at it again…another cash giveaway!  They are offering $100 CASH to the player who bets the most on any of the Idabet.com tracks (total wagers for Friday and Saturday, June 24 and 25) AND another Benjamin Franklin to the bettor who bets the most on the Sandy Downs racing card combined Friday and Saturday.  If the same person happens to bet the most on both contests, we will give $100 to that player and $100 to the player who bets the second most on Sandy Downs.

And remember everyone is a big winner on Sandy Downs since we are giving you 10% CASH REWARDS on every Win, Place and Exotic bet you make.  Have a great weekend from Ida and Melissa.

Preview for Weekend of June 24

Q-Racing Aces Seminar, Cash Giveaways,

Championship Finals at Sandy Downs

Earlier Post Time of 5:30 each day

 

For bettors who want to use their brain instead of just betting numbers and colors at Sandy Downs are encouraged to attend the Q-Racing Aces Seminar at the track on Saturday, June 25 at 5p.m.  The Q-Racing Aces is a touring promotion of the American Quarter Horse Racing Association (AQHA) to attract and educate new fans to the sport featuring “America’s Fastest Athletes.”  Jennifer Perkins will host the informal and fun event.  The seminar is part of an action packed two-day weekend of racing featuring the AQHA Juvenile and Derby Championship Finals and family fun promotions.  Live racing will be conducted both Friday and Saturday (June 24 & 25) this weekend.  Due to additional races, post time for the first race is 5:30 p.m. for both days instead of the usual 6:30 p.m.

Perkins has a 20-year background in racing ranging as an owner and as a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program.  She also has degrees in economics and sociology and a Masters in Animal Science.  Such a background gives Perkins a unique background on all aspects of racing from understanding the equine side to money management of the betting end. Sandy Downs Director of Operations Melissa Bernard said, “Fans will able to tap her extensive brain to make a day at the races more enjoyable and profitable at the same time. “  The first 100 guests at the seminar will also receive a Free bet on the evening’s race card.

Two of the biggest races of the meet will be on Saturday with the $40,000 John Deere Sandy Downs Juvenile Trial for...

JOCKEY DIRK CRANE WINS 5 OF 7 RACES AT SANDY DOWNS

Sets Track Record Aboard Lutyens

 

There were no surprise winners with jockey Dirk Crane on Friday at Sandy Downs in Idaho Falls as he made five trips to the winners circle out of the seven race card.  In the seventh race riding Lutyens, the track record for 7 furlongs was set at 1.24.8 in an 8 ¼ length victory.

The 10-year-old Kentucky-bred Lutyens is the son of Dixieland Band winner of the 1983 Pennsylvania Derby and the 1984 Massachusetts Handicap.  A grandson of Mr. Prospector and great-grandson of the 20^th century’s leading sire, Northern Dancer, Lutyens was a three time winner at Sandy Downs last year and clearly showed his class breeding.

Crane just missed another track record in another thoroughbred race in the 4^th atop Something Sonic who covered the five furlongs in 58.6 just two fractions off the 58.4 seconds standard.  Something Sonice broke on top and drew away to win by a commanding nine lengths as the favorite win a win payoff of $2.40.

There was only one racing day last week at Sandy Downs, but a two day card is set for this week on Friday and Saturday.  Due to additional races, the first race will be moved to 5:30 MDT both days.

 For more information, please call or email the following:

IdaRacing at Sandy Downs; 208-745-8433 or visit IdaRacing.com;  IdaBet.com; 877-782-9994 to open an account or click on IdaBet.com for more information; The Turf Club at Fort Hall Casino; 208-237-8774 x 3041 or go to IdaRacing.com for more information.

JOCKEYS GREENE & BLACK WIN 9 OF 15 RACES

AT SANDY DOWNS OPENING WEEKEND

Track attracts out of state fans via the Internet

 

You could have thrown out all of your handicapping skills and still won 9 of the 15 races on opening weekend at Sandy Downs in Idaho Falls by just betting your favorite combination of colors and jockeys.  If green and black are among your favorite colors, Sandy Downs was the place for such hunch bets.  Jockeys Paul Greene scored in 5 races while red hot Nikeela Black hit the wire first in 4 races including three John Deere AQHA Qualifying Trials on Saturday.

Black’s victories on Saturday became increasingly impressive. She took the first trial (2-yr.-old quarter horses, 250 yards) with Jess Fly Rey by a half length after breaking second and quickly taking the lead.  She followed up by drawing away by 2 ½ lengths in the 4^th race at 350 yards with Sw Count on Me.  Black concluded her triple in the sixth race at 350 yards with Illtacmanhattan by 2 ¼ lengths as the betting favorite.  She also won one race on Friday’s opening day card.

The 30-year-old native of Phoenix has now won 5 of 14 races this year and a whopping 79% of her mounts have finished in the money.  Last year, Black was third in the nation in win percentage among jockeys with at least 150 starts.  She won 28% of her mounts just behind the likes of Russell Baze and 13^th in percentage of rides hitting the board (1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd).  Among Greene’s five tallies was in Saturday’s $8000 Giltner Trucking AQHA Championship Stakes Series aboard Sheza Bad Habit covering the 400 yards in 19.473 seconds and returning $6.40 to win.

BUSINESS UP AS OUT OF STATE...