PLAYING THE PONIES
Fred Faour's selections for Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park -- plus a Pegasus World Cup reminder
Jan 27, 2018, 2:12 pm
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
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
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.