Playing the ponies
Fred Faour's selections for Sunday's big stakes day at Sam Houston Race Park
Jan 28, 2018, 11:42 am
Valadorna headlines today's Sam Houston Ladies Classic. Hodges Photography
It's Ladies Classic day at the Sam Houston Race Park thoroughbred meet with nine races one a rare Sunday card. 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). Several really strong races today in addition to the Classic. Good luck!
FIRST
3-2-1-5
SONG SUNG BLUE should fare better on the lawn
SECOND
7-1-2-5
ORATORY LIGHTS could be ready at first asking
THIRD
7-5-2-10
TACOLA should be in a good spot to compete
FOURTH
1-4-5-2
SMOKING ROMANCE is consistent and should be in the mix
FIFTH
8-5-10-3
DIRECT DIAL has been competitive on some tough circuits
SIXTH
7-5-2-4
HOGY is one of the better horses in the country in this type of race
SEVENTH
3-4-6-1
SHE'S PRETTY LUCKY will be a short price but looks tough here
EIGHTH
7-9-8-3
CHICAGO STYLE should be tough in this spot
NINTH
7-4-2-1
ACTRESS' best effort should be enough in this spot
TENTH
9-4-3-1
JOYOUS THUNDER might have a shot at a solid price
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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.