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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Astros lose to Braves, 6-2. Composite Getty Image.

Reynaldo López struck out seven over six scoreless innings, Orlando Arcia homered and the Atlanta Braves won their third straight, 6-2 over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

López (2-0) allowed four hits and walked one in his third straight sterling outing to start the season.

“It’s like I’ve always said, for me, the important thing is to focus,” López said through an interpreter. “To have the focus during the outings and then, to be able to locate those pitches.”

He has given up one run in 18 innings for an ERA of 0.50.

“He threw the ball really well against a really good hitting club,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “Another solid one.”

Arcia hit a solo home run to left in the second and a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Luis Guillorme and backup catcher Chadwick Tromp each hit a two-run double in the ninth to put the Braves ahead 6-0.

“Tromp has done a good job ever since we’ve been bringing him in these situations and filling in,” Snitker said. “I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him back there. ... He’s an aggressive hitter. He’s knocked in some big runs for us in the limited time that he’s played.”

Kyle Tucker homered for the Astros leading off the ninth against Aaron Bummer, and Mauricio Dubón had a two-out RBI single to cut the lead to four. After Bummer walked Chas McCormick to put two on, Raisel Iglesias induced a groundout by Victor Caratini to end it and secure his fourth save.

“They pitched well, and our guys are grinding out at-bats,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “Even in the ninth inning there, we’re grinding, fighting until the end.”

Hunter Brown (0-3) yielded two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in six innings. Brown allowed nine runs in two-thirds of an inning in his previous start, last Thursday against Kansas City.

Brown said he executed better Tuesday than he had in his previous two starts.

“He mixed all his pitches well,” Espada said. “The breaking ball was effective. He threw some cutters in on the hands to some of those lefties. He mixed his pitches really well. That was a really strong performance.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: 2B Ozzie Albies was placed on the 10-day injured list with a broken right big toe. IF David Fletcher had his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Albies’ place on the roster.

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (right shoulder inflammation) threw a side session Tuesday, but Houston will wait until Wednesday to see how Verlander feels before deciding whether he will make his first start this weekend against the Nationals, Espada said. ... RHP Luis Garcia (right elbow surgery) threw around 20-25 pitches off the bullpen mound, and RHP José Urquidy (right forearm strain) also threw off the mound, Espada said. ... LHP Framber Valdez (left elbow soreness) played catch off flat ground.

UP NEXT

Atlanta LHP Max Fried (1-0, 8.74 ERA) starts Wednesday in the series finale opposite RHP J.P. France (0-2, 8.22).

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