Playing the ponies
Fred Faour's picks for Wednesday at Sam Houston Race Park
Feb 7, 2018, 12:43 pm
It's race day at Sam Houston. Sam Houston Race Park
It's Wednesday racing at the Sam Houston Race Park thoroughbred meet. Here are my selections. These are not meant to be in exact order, but merely the four horses I think have the best chance to win. For beginners, I suggest exacta boxes with three horses, using two of mine and one of your own. And you can always pick up a copy of Acing Racing 2016 to learn everything you need to know. (These are the picks and format that are available on the free tip sheet at SHRP).
FIRST
7-2-6-3
COMMANCHE HOPPER
Close in first try over the track and should get a good trip under Sasha
SECOND
8-2-3-7
DANNY'S TURBO
Has yet to miss the board in four turf sprints while facing tough customers in La.
THIRD
8-5-3-1
VISCIOUS GRASSHOPPER
Faced quality runners at Woodbine but specializes at this distance and could pop at a price
FOURTH
2-1-9-6
CIVITAVECCHIO
Ran behind the 1 at Retama but should get a nice trip off the speed and could upset
FIFTH
8-2-1-10
LAST DESSERT
A beaten favorite in last but barn's young horses usually improve with each start
SIXTH
1-6-5-3
OLDWYCK was a little flat in meet debut but should improve
SEVENTH
7-6-5-4
TIZ A MELODY
Has faced stakes company and run well on grass but distance is a question mark
EIGHTH
1-6-7-8
ZILKER
Lost the rider in turf start last out but should be in the mix here
NINTH
2-3-4-9
ALL ABOUT VOODOO
Another Asmussen runner who should show a lot more in this spot
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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.