Playing the ponies
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, March 1
Mar 1, 2019, 8:01 am
Playing the ponies
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). Lots of rain in the area so if the races come off the turf, ignore those picks.
FIRST
2-1-6-4
KING CLOUDY was a sharp winner in debut and should fit well here
SECOND
1-4-6-7
IRISH MISSLE might turn the tables in this spot in third off layoff
THIRD
5-1-11-8
SAMICEAN usually fires a good shot and has a strong record here
FOURTH
2-6-5-3
WHENTHEPENNYDROPS
Solid debut and should improve in start No. 2
FIFTH
11-9-1-8
GOOD MONGOLIA has been solid in both turf tries in Chicago
SIXTH
6-1-3-4
KINGSVILLE rolled in last and might have found a spot to repeat
SEVENTH
6-5-3-7
CORLUNA has reeled off a couple good wins and could do it again
EIGHTH
9-2-5-7
ASI FUE was solid in debut and should be in the mix
The Astros dropped a tough one Tuesday night, falling 4–2 to the White Sox after slipping behind early. But before anyone reaches for the panic button, take a breath — this team may not look like the dominant, late-inning machine from 2022, but there are still reasons to believe something bigger could be brewing.
In this episode, we unpack what this loss really means and why the bigger picture still matters. Despite a wave of injuries, the Astros are hanging a few games over the .500 mark — a feat that may be more impressive than it seems on the surface.
We take a closer look at Lance McCullers Jr., who’s no longer fighting for a spot at the back of the rotation. His stuff looks sharper, and his role as a solid No. 3 is starting to take shape. We also spotlight Ryan Gusto, a young arm who might quietly become a key piece down the stretch.
The offense hasn’t exploded the way fans hoped, but maybe that’s the point — Houston is still in the fight, and in some ways, overachieving considering the circumstances. Rookie Cam Smith is settling in nicely at the big-league level, and although Christian Walker has underwhelmed, Isaac Paredes has emerged as one of the top third basemen in the American League. Plus, let's not forget Yordan Alvarez should be returning in short order to give the offense a lift.
And yes, it’s early, but we can’t help but wonder… could this be the start of another World Series run? After all, the Astros were swept by the White Sox in 2017 — and we all remember how that story ended.
Be sure to watch the video below as ESPN Houston's John Granato and Lance Zierlein weigh in!
___________________________
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!