PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, Feb. 7
Feb 6, 2020, 6:59 am
PLAYING THE PONIES
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
1-6-9-8
ADDED ATTRACTION will be very tough in here if he goes
SECOND
11-5-1-8
SKY PULPIT showed nothing in debut but should improve in second start
THIRD
4-5-10-1
HOT FUDGE LOUIE has a win at this trip over the track
FOURTH
10-6-8-2
TREBULSKI was in tough in last two; should fare better here
FIFTH
1-6-2-10
DECLARE WAR should do well if the race stays on the turf
SIXTH
1-6-2-5
NOMO RON has been hanging in there with tough runners
SEVENTH
2-6-7-10
SPIRITUAL WARFARE should be in the mix if he is on his A game
EIGHTH
5-4-1-2
ROCKNROLL ROCKET should take a step forward here at a square price
NINTH
11-5-1-2
CATCH THE DEVIL has taken a lot of action in two starts; tonight might be the night
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.
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.