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Ricardo Valenzuela’s six-year-old “Go Straight” is the heavy favorite in the “Legendary Dream Handicap” at Sandy Downs Race Track’s opening day card Friday.  Go Straight coming off an allowance victory at Southern California’s Los Alamitos Race Course is listed at 8 to 5 odds in a field of eight going 350 yards for quarter horses.  Tyson Luck gets the mount carrying 126 pounds.

Post time for the first race is 6:30MDT (4:30EDT) with the Legendary Dream carded as the 7^th race.  The feature is at 350 yards with a purse of $3300 added for 3-year-olds and up.  Go Straight has an impressive career record of 15 finishes in the money from 30 starts.  However, he was shut out from the winners circle in 2010, but has rebounded this year hitting the board in his last three races.  The California bred gelding has six lifetime wins.

“Iona Cool” will be the local favorite despite being unraced since his Sandy Downs victory last June.  Owned and trained by Larry Chapple, the Idaho bred four-year-old has finished in the money in 4 of his 6 career starts including two trips to the winners circle.

Friday’s racing card also features the Adequan Sandy Downs Derby Challenge Trials over three races for quarter horses.

The 12-day meet which also includes thoroughbred racing continues on Saturday with post time at 6:30pmMDT.

Don’t trust any of my handicapping skills in the future, when I can’t even figure out post times.  Post time for Sandy Downs is 6:30 MDT…but it’s 8:30 EDT, not the 4:30 I’ve been listing.  So those of you on the East Coast, go out for a nice dinner, then sit back, turn on the computer and WATCH AND WAGER on Sandy Downs.

If you didn’t get your complimentary PP’s for Friday, email me right away Steve@Idabet.com and I will send them out!

Besides the Belmont Stakes Saturday, there’s another great betting offer over the weekend.  Harness fans can jump on a $10,000 gtd. Pick 6 at Tioga Downs in upstate New York on Sunday.

Melissa is doing it again!  She’s giving away Jim’s money (for those who don’t know, Jim and Melissa own Idabet.com).  First the 10% CASH REWARDS on most of the bets on their Sandy Downs meet and now an EXTRA $100.00 THIS SATURDAY, June 11 to the player who BETS THE MOST MONEY.

That’s a cool Ben Franklin for betting the most.  Hey you don’t even have to win and you’ll still get back $100.00.  Now remember, we are new and we’re not quite Twin Spires, so you don’t have to be zillions to compete.

For the rest of us, we’ll still get the 10% on all of our WIN, PLACE, and EXOTIC BETS at Sandy Downs.

To watch the Sandy Downs races LIVE ONLINE at Idabet.com starting Friday, you will need WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER.  If you don’t have it, go to the following link to download it:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/windows-media-player

It’s only 12 days of racing, but for you the Idabet.com player, it’s really a great chance to get some of the best player incentives in all of racing…no matter how little you bet!  Opening day of the mixed thoroughbred/quarterhorse meet is this Friday, June 10 with a local post time in Idaho Falls at 6:30 p.m. (4:30 on the East Coast).  There is also an excellent series of stakes and the Bank of America Quarterhorse Championship Trials and Finals throughout the season.

10% CASH BACK…All Sandy Downs race days……Opening day and Saturday (this weekend’s race days), Idabet.com players get FREE PAST PERFORMANCES and FREE LIVE VIDEO ON OUR WEBSITE.  Go to our homepage…YOU WILL NEED TO DOWNLOAD WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER TO VIEW THE RACES.

If you write a “cool” message about us on our Facebook page (Idabet.com Horse Racing) or Twitter (Idabet.com) or any racing site you post messages, we will give a $2 FREE BET on the Sandy Downs races either Friday or Saturday.  Just post the message, then E-Mail Melissa@Idabet.com as to which site you posted, your name and account number and she will add the bet to your account!  Thanks in advance for spreading the word of Idabet.com

But clearly the best part of the meet, will be our generous 10% CASH REWARD added daily to your IdaRewards account on all Sandy Downs WIN, PLACE and EXOTIC WAGERS during the meet!  It’s fun racing, racing the way it used to be…and IT PAYS GREAT REWARDS TO IDABET.COM PLAYERS.  Have some fun this summer!

Horse racing returns to Idaho Falls on June 10th with live Thoroughbred and Quarter horse racing at Sandy Downs.  Twelve days of racing are scheduled for the 2011 season with full wagering at the country style race park.  Horses from the Intermountain Region, Northwest, and the Midwest are expected to compete. 

Jim Bernard, President and General Manager of Ida Racing, operators of the Sandy Downs race meet said this year’s season is just the tip of the iceberg for a renaissance for Idaho racing.  He said, “There is a new era unfolding for Idaho racing and we are so pleased to grow the horse racing industry for our horsemen, local farms and great fans.  This year brings together the fun at Sandy Downs, our new Turf Club at the Fort Hall Casino and the rapid growth of our IdaBet.com online wagering service.  Together, these innovations form the cornerstone of a bright future for the important racing industry and its contributions to the state.

The 2011 race dates in will be June 10, 11, 17, 24 and 25 as well as July 8, 9, 15, 22, 23, 29 & 30.  Post time for the first race is 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.  In addition to the live action, fans can watch and wager on races from across the country including famed race courses like Saratoga.

Admission daily is $6 which includes a grandstand seat (first come, first serve), official program, tip sheet and a discount coupon when available. Children 10 and under are free with an adult.  Sandy Downs also offers festival style seating on the picnic lawn.  Fans can choose from an array of concessions and a country-style barbecue.

A series of fun promotions and live music will be offered throughout the meet to entertain the entire family as well as the astute racing fan; Mad Capper Handicapping Inside Tips, Free Mystery Betting Vouchers, the Derby Girls, Nightly Celebrity...