PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, Jan. 31
Jan 31, 2020, 6:36 am
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
4-2-7-1
SEATTLE SOUNDER is lightly raced and should improve
SECOND
3-1-5-7
ORATORY GLORY should be in a good spot to clear this condition
THIRD
10-6-1-12
MINE BOSS is lightly raced, last was not bad and he should improve
FOURTH
4-6-2-3
REACHREACHREACH drops in class and fits well in this spot
FIFTH
10-7-11-2
T.J.B. OORAH comes from a hot barn and is bred to love the grass
SIXTH
5-4-9-1
FRANKALEE FUN did the heavy lifting in last before getting passed by the favorite late
SEVENTH
5-8-2-3
TIZ PLUS was in over his head in the last two; much better spot here
EIGHTH
2-8-9-3
TRULY BLING has good connections; distance should be a perfect fit
NINTH
3-1-7-2
KARATE HOTTIE is another sharp Broberg claim who will be tough
TENTH
5-7-4-1
GATOR VINDICATION was a sharp second here in last and might go all the way
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Mauricio Dubón scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 10th inning, Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes opened the game with home runs, and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Friday night.
Peña led off the 10th with a single that advanced automatic runner Dubón to third. Dubón scored when Hunter Strickland, who hadn’t allowed a run in 14 2/3 innings of his first 13 appearances with the Angels, threw a pitch behind the back of Paredes.
Houston closer Josh Hader (5-1) retired the side in order in the ninth and Bennett Sousa retired three straight batters in the 10th for his second save.
Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi gave up home runs to Pena and Paredes for a 2-0 Astros lead in the held the Astros to four hits, striking out nine and walking none, for the rest of his seven-inning start.
Jo Adell trimmed Houston’s lead to 2-1 in the fourth with a 426-foot homer off Astros starter Hunter Brown. Angels rookie Christian Moore, a first-round pick out of Tennessee in 2024, tied it 2-2 with his first major league homer to open the seventh.
Tempers flared in the third when Brown hit Angels shortstop Zach Neto in the elbow with a 95-mph sinker. Both benches and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown, and order was quickly restored.
Key Moment
Astros center fielder Jake Meyers raced to the gap in left-center to make a spectacular, full-extension diving catch of Adell’s drive with a runner on first base and one out in the bottom of the eighth to preserve a 2-2 tie.
Key Stat
The home runs by Peña and Paredes marked the first time in three years the Astros have opened a game with two homers. Jose Altuve and Peña last accomplished the feat on July 24, 2022 at Seattle.
Up Next
Astros LHP Brandon Walter (0-0, 1.53 ERA) opposes Angels RHP José Soriano (4-5, 3.54) on Saturday night.