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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Rockets stay alive with blowout win over Warriors
Apr 30, 2025, 9:49 pm
Javy Báez capped a five-run third inning with his ninth career grand slam, and the Detroit Tigers avoided a series sweep by beating the Houston Astros 7-4 on Wednesday.
JAVIER BÁEZ GRAND SLAM!!! pic.twitter.com/O4WZ7W1bSm
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 30, 2025
Baez’s two-out homer off AJ Blubaugh (0-1), a 24-year-old right-hander making his major league debut, put the Tigers ahead 7-1. All five runs were unearned due to shortstop Jeremy Peña throwing error on Kerry Carpenter's grounder.
Riley Greene tied his career high with four hits.
Brenan Hanifee (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Jackson Jobe, who allowed three runs, four hits and four walks in three innings. Detroit has won five of seven and nine of 13.
Blubaugh (0-1) struck out two in a 1-2-3 first and gave up seven runs — two earned — and five hits in four innings with six strikeouts and a walk.
Blubaugh was optioned back to Sugar Land after the game.
AJ Blubaugh said he was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land after today’s start.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 30, 2025
Peña hit the first career leadoff home run, the first of his three hits, but Colt Keith hit a two-run homer in the second to put Detroit ahead for good.
First pitch. First swing. See ya. pic.twitter.com/6wIBx541an
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 30, 2025
Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the fifth and Victor Caratini homered in the seventh against Tyler Holton.
Altuve with a 2-RBI double! pic.twitter.com/XR1zW2Zf5i
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 30, 2025
Holton struck out Yainer Diaz to strand two runners in the seventh and Tommy Kahnle struck out Christian Walker to leave two runners on in the eighth.
Houston went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners.
Key moment
Báez drove a high sweeper over the left-field scoreboard.
Key stat
Houston allowed five unearned runs in the third inning after giving up three in its first 29 games.
Up next
Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (1-3 4.00 ERA) opens a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Tigers: RHP Casey Mize (4-1 2.12 ERA) opens a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels and LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-4, 4.31) on Thursday night.