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Saturday marks the running of the Preakness Stakes. It has little meaning, because there is no Triple Crown possibility and the Rona has it being run in October instead of May. But here are a few plays for the card, focusing on all the stakes races. As for wager sizes, bet what you can afford. Most of these will be $20-$50 per race on my tickets, but you can bet minimums and spend as little as $6-10 if you like. It's up to you. These are all free to do with as you wish. They are all guaranteed to win unless they don't. Good luck:
Race 2: The 1 is favored here, but we will take a shot with the second choice, She'sonthewarpath. Has only missed the board three times in 11 starts on the turf and will give you an honest effort.
The bet: WIN/PLACE/SHOW on the 3.
Race 5: Interesting filly sprint here, with not a lot of actual early speed, which should favor Fly On Angel. If she clears early, she should be tough. Wicked Whisper almost caught her in last, however, and is rounding in to form and will be our key horse.
The bets: Exactas 2 with 1-3-4-6-7, 1-3-4-6-7 with 2. Also, box 2-3-6-7.
Race 6: Pass. Factor This is even money and will be tough to beat.
Race 7: No. 8 Nitrous is a bit of kryptonite for me. I have played him several times over the last year and he usually lets me down. But he has faced some monsters this year - Whitmore, Vekoma and CZ Rocket in particular - and while he hasn't threatened those, I think today he is in a perfect spot. His last was a bit of a dog so we have to get past that, but he will get more of my money today at 10-1 morning line.
The bets: WIN/PLACE/SHOW on No. 8. Bet heavier to place and show than win.
Race 8: Pass for me. If you must play something, the 3 across the board.
Race 9: Not crazy about this one either but play the 9 across the board small.
Race 10: Bonnie South will get most of the money here, and she is worth using. But we will also do an exacta box where we try to beat her. If she runs, we get it twice. If not hopefully we pull a nice score.
The bets: Exactas 5 with 1-3-4-8-11, 1-3-4-8-11 with 5. Exacta box 3-4-5-8-11.
Race 11: The Preakness Stakes. In the Derby, Authentic was able to get to the lead early after a slow start, set moderate fractions and was never really threatened. He could easily do the same thing today. He might face a little more pressure from Art Collector, Swiss Skydiver and perhaps Thousand Words. We will play two trifectas: The Authentic wins trifecta and the one where we go for the big score. Maybe double the price on the first ticket.
The bets: Trifecta wheel 9 with 2-3-5-7-8 with 1-2-3-5-6-7-8-10-11.
8 with 3-5-7-9 with all; 3-5-7-9 with 8 with all, 3-5-7-9 with all with 8.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.