PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, March 13
Mar 13, 2020, 5:29 am
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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.
FIRST
7-6-3-4
UPTOWN WTF had a nightmare trip in last
SECOND
1-6-4-5
SPACE COWGIRL comes off a nice effort at Fair Grounds
THIRD
3-8-9-2
DON'T LET ME LINGER should move forward in this spot
FOURTH
4-6-3-5
GRAND TRIBUTE has a couple of OK efforts at Delta
FIFTH
5-9-8-1
PASSIVE has been off since June but has steady works and best would be good enough
SIXTH
1-6-4-2
MISLED improved in last and another step forward should get it done
SEVENTH
9-11-10-4
VALENTINE'S DAY should improve off a solid second in meet debut
EIGHTH
7-1A-8-6
THE REMAINDER has good early speed and could prove tough
NINTH
7-9-5-2
BOUNDLESS JOY drops in class and should get a good trip
TENTH
6-10-9-2
HECOULDGOALLTHEWAY is a Kitten's Joy firster on the turf; could be a good night for Sasha
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Houston Astros right-hander Cristian Javier was scratched from Sunday’s start at the Washington Nationals because of neck discomfort.
He will be placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to April 14.
Right-hander Hunter Brown (0-3, 10.54 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season in the series finale at Washington. Brown suffered a 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on April 16 despite allowing only two runs in six innings.
“Neck discomfort, started a few days ago,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He tried to work through it but just couldn’t happen. This kind of just came out of nowhere. So, we are going to see what happens here.”
The Astros called up right-hander Spencer Arrighetti from the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Arrighetti struggled in his first two starts this season, going 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA.
Espada said JP France and Justin Verlander will start in Chicago for the next series against the Cubs, but the order was not announced. Arrighetti could also get one of those spots, as could veteran left-hander Framber Valdez (left elbow inflammation), who has been throwing during the road trip.
“He just played catch right now,” Espada said of Valdez on Sunday. “We will see how he feels. Once we see how he feels we will start talking about the possibilities if he can pitch in Chicago or not.”