PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, Feb. 28
Feb 28, 2020, 6:52 am
Coady photography
Here are my selections for Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park. 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
3-1-7-6
FLYING J GIDEON showed improvement in last and should move forward
SECOND
5-2-1-7
EVIL WAYS has been in decent form and should be in the mix
THIRD
11-12-10-8
CYPRESS POINT has been on some tough circuits; fits well here
FOURTH
2-5-6-7
AMERICAN LEAGUE was a beaten favorite in last; should fare better here
FIFTH
2-10-7-12
CATCH THE DEVIL might have finally found the right spot
SIXTH
4-12-10-6
BO TEE should have an improved effort if he gets back on the turf
SEVENTH
1-11-6-9
MUCHO DINERO just missed in meet debut; could get it done here
EIGHTH
3-8-7-1
MAX PANDOWDY has been OK against solid foes
NINTH
8-7-1-4
BLUE HARBOR has been solid in both starts at SHRP
TENTH
2-6-7-9
HONG KONG HELEN just missed in last and should be right there again
Yainer Diaz homered, Josh Hader got the last four outs for his major league-leading 25th save, and the Houston Astros spoiled Shohei Ohtani's 31st birthday, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Saturday.
Ohtani made his fourth mound start of the season, pitching two scoreless innings as he continues to work his way back from elbow surgery. He struck out the side in the second.
Justin Wrobleski (4-3) relieved Ohtani to start the third, and that's when the Dodgers' problems started. Zack Short hit a two-run double as Houston scored four times in the inning. Diaz went deep leading off the fourth, his 11th of the season.
Mookie Betts hit his 11th homer for the Dodgers in the first, and Miguel Rojas' two-run shot in the fourth pulled LA within 5-4.
Jose Altuve led off the seventh with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Hader entered with two on and two out in the eighth and struck out pinch-hitter Esteury Ruiz. In the ninth, he allowed a leadoff single to Ohtani but retired Betts, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman to end it.
Framber Valdez (10-4) struck out seven and allowed four runs in six innings.
Key moment
The Dodgers sent Michael Conforto to the plate to pinch-hit with two out in the eighth, and the Astros brought in Hader. Manager Dave Roberts replaced Conforto with Ruiz, who fanned on Hader's slider.
Key stat
The Astros have scored 24 runs in the first two games of the series. On Friday night, they handed the Dodgers their worst loss in the history of Dodger Stadium, 18-1.
Up next
Astros RHP Ryan Gusto (5-3, 4.90 ERA) will face the Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan (0-0, 2.25) for Sunday’s series finale.