Thoroughbred racing returns
Sam Houston Race Park picks for opening night
Jan 24, 2019, 7:14 am
Courtesy photo
Live racing has returned to Sam Houston Race Park and it is opening night of the thoroughbred meet. The Blitz will be broadcasting live on Friday and I will also be making an appearance at the track Sunday afternoon.
Here are my selections for Friday night. 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).
FIRST
4-3-1-2
BITTY BRIT will need to run back to her Oct. 9 race but if she does she looks tough
SECOND
4-3-5-6
LONS OXBOW comes off a sharp effort and barn will win a lot of races here
THIRD
7-1-2-6
AURORA LANE comes off two nice efforts at Remington and Okie runners fare well here
FOURTH
3-6-7-4
Will take a shot with first GLORIOSA; barn usually has them ready
FIFTH
7-11-10-5
GHURAIR always seems to be right there on the turf and looks solid here
SIXTH
8-4-3-2
LINUS has yet to show much but has been facing solid runners
SEVENTH
7-1-9-5
YEOWZER returns to the grass where he dominated in August
EIGHTH
5-6-11-9
BALLROOM KITTEN should be rolling in the late stages
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Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points, Jeremy Sochan added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs held on to beat the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Saturday night in their home opener.
Wembanyama added seven rebounds and three blocks while shooting 10 for 17 from the field.
Chris Paul added three points and nine assists, including a drive and feed to Sochan for an open layup that put San Antonio up 104-99 with 1:35 remaining.
After trailing by 22 points in the first half, Houston was within one possession for much of the final minutes. The Rockets went on a 21-8 run in the opening six minutes of the final quarter, turning an 18-point deficit into a 95-90 lead for San Antonio.
Jalen Green had 27 points for Houston. Fred VanVleet added 18 and Dillon Brooks had 16.
Takeaways
Rockets: Houston wasted a good finish with a poor start. After shooting 34% through three quarters, including 17% in the second period, the Rockets shot 60% in the final quarter.
Spurs: San Antonio went 2 for 13 on 3-pointers after opening the game 6 for 7.
Key moment
After struggling mightily at times last season to get the ball into Wembanyama’s hands around the rim, a pair of passes from Paul yielded much promise and thunderous celebrations. Paul’s first lob resulted in an alley-oop dunk for Wembanyama with 2:12 remaining in the first half that put the Spurs up 57-38. Paul and Wembanyama repeated the alley-oop dunk a minute later, giving the Spurs a 59-38 advantage.
Key stat
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has stressed the need for his team to be more physical and the Spurs responded, outrebounding Houston 57-46.
Up next
The Rockets face the Spurs again on Monday to close out a two-game set in San Antonio.