PLAYING THE PONIES

Fred Faour's selections for Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park -- plus a Pegasus World Cup reminder

Fred Faour's selections for Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park -- plus a Pegasus World Cup reminder
Picks for Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. Sam Houston Race Park

It's Day 5 of the Sam Houston Race Park thoroughbred meet with nine races tonight. Here are my selections for the card. 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). Also, we will be hosting an ESPN party at the track today from 6-8 p.m. Drop by and say hello. Also, the Pegasus at Gulfstream is this afternoon, and you can find selections here. We had a strong night Friday; not as confident in tonight's card and keep an eye on the the turf races. If it rains enough for them to come off the turf, the picks for those races are not trustwortthy.

FIRST

2-6-3-5

FAZZLE DAZZLE returns to the main track and should be in the mix

SECOND

8-6-1-7

RAPID LADY has been close in all three starts and might get it done

THIRD

3-2-1-4

JOCANDY could turn the tables on DR. SHIPLEY this time

FOURTH

5-6-2-1

OLDWICK has been knocking heads with tough customers

FIFTH

3-10-8-2

MAV MASTER likes this surface and could surprise here

SIXTH

2-5-1-6

ARCHER CITY has been off since November but should be ready

SEVENTH

3-6-7-4

BRAVURA is ultra consistent and should be in the mix

EIGHTH

4-9-1-2

WITT'S DOWN can win this with her best effort

NINTH

3-9-10-7

TRUE CONFESSION just missed at Remington and a repeat wins this

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The Astros beat the Phillies, 2-1. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.

Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.

Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.

Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!

Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.

Key moment

Smith’s RBI.

Key stat

Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.

Up next

The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.

The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).

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