Playing the ponies
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, Feb. 22
Feb 22, 2019, 6:56 am
Sam Houston Race Park
Here are my selections for Friday. 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
1-2-9-7
SLUFFYS GIZMO heads an intriguing entry
SECOND
3-7-5-2
TRUE WISDOM flashed speed going longer for strong connections
THIRD
2-8-5-4
CHASE FOR THE GOLD ripped off a nice maiden win in last and could repeat
FOURTH
7-1-3-4
RARE POPPY has been a money burner of late but is in a good spot
FIFTH
2-6-7-1
LITTLE SNIP has been facing tough customers and fits well here
SIXTH
8-1-6-4
ARCH VALUE freaked in last; similar effort probably takes this
SEVENTH
6-4-5-2
SARGE'S DAUGHTER caught a tough group in last and should be prominent early
EIGHTH
8-3-5-9
PURELY BOY likely needed last and could pop at a price
How Houston Texans final roster shows where confidence (and concerns) lie
Aug 27, 2025, 11:33 am
Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer and Mickey Moniak drove in three runs as the Colorado Rockies snapped a four-game skid with a 6-1 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
Tanner Gordon (5-5) allowed six hits and run in six innings to earn his third straight win.
The Rockies took the lead in the third on a costly error. The Astros were up by 1 when Kyle Karros singled with one out in the inning. Ryan Ritter then reached and Karros moved to third on an error by Jeremy Peña that kept Houston from turning a double play.
The Rockies took advantage of the miscue when Ritter scored on a groundout by Tyler Freeman to tie it 1-all. Moniak followed with an RBI single to put the Rockies on top.
Goodman then hit his 26th home run to left-center to make it 4-1.
Colorado had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth when Moniak’s double off the wall in left-center extended the lead to 6-1.
Houston starter Hunter Brown (10-6) allowed six hits and six runs, two earned, in 6 2/3 innings.
Slugger Yordan Alvarez went 0 for 2 with two walks in his return after sitting out since May 3 with a fractured right hand. His return didn’t give the offense an immediate boost, with the Astros going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
Jesús Sánchez gave Houston a 1-0 lead with his home run to the seats behind the bullpen with no outs in the second. The Astros loaded the bases with two outs in that inning, but Jose Altuve lined out to end the threat.
Key moment
Peña’s error in the third that kept the Astros from turning a double play that would have ended the inning.
Key stat
Tuesday marked Colorado’s first win in Houston since Aug. 14, 2018, snapping an 11-game skid.
Up next
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (11-7, 3.32 ERA) opposes RHP Chase Dollander (2-1, 6.91) on Wednesday.