PLAYING THE PONIES

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, May 24

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, May 24

Coady Photography

Here are my selections for Friday night. 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). We will be doing The Blitz from 4-7 at the track so please drop by.

FIRST
3-4-1-7
EYESA SHOWFLY DANDY stretches out off some solid efforts


SECOND
9-6-1-5
SQEEZE MY CORONA has been close against better and might break through

THIRD
2-8-9-5
MS INTENSITY has room to improve and finds a good spot

FOURTH
4-10-1-3
ORPHIC has been consistent and should be in the mix

FIFTH
4-3-9-7
DM DASHING BELLA should improve in this spot

SIXTH
10-9-4-8
MR CORONA CRYSTAL was in tough in last and should fit better here

SEVENTH
10-8-6-9
DM LA JOLLA CARTEL needed last start and should improve

EIGHTH
6-9-1-3
DM SWIPE AND DASH could pop here at a very nice price

NINTH
2-5-7-6
KRASH OCEANS specializes at short distances

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Astros get big hits from Walker and Paredes to top Padres

The Astros beat the Padres, 6-4. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Rookie Cam Smith homered on his first two at-bats and had a career-best four RBIs to power the Houston Astros to a 6-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

Smith connected off Kyle Hart (2-1) on a three-run homer in the second inning to put the Astros on top and added a solo shot off the lefty in the fourth that made it 5-2.

San Diego's Luis Arraez, who had three hits, sent a high fastball from Bryan King into the first row in right field for a two-run homer that cut the lead to 5-4 in the seventh.

Jake Meyers tied a season high with three hits for the Astros, capped by a run-scoring single in the eighth to give them some insurance.

Houston starter Ryan Gusto (2-1) gave up nine hits and two runs in five innings. Josh Hader pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save.

The Padres went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

The Astros trailed by 1 with two on and two outs in the second inning when Smith sent his first home run into the seats in left field to make it 3-1.

An RBI single by Yainer Diaz extended the lead to 4-1 in the third.

Oscar Gonzalez cut the lead to 4-2 with an RBI single on a ground ball with one out in the fourth.

Smith’s second home run came on a full count in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 5-2.

Hart yielded 10 hits and five runs in five innings for his first loss this season after the team won each of his first three starts.

Key Moment

Smith's first home run that put the Astros on top for good.

Key Stat

Smith was 1 for 10 in Houston’s three-game series against St. Louis this week before breaking out Friday night.

Up Next

Houston RHP Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 4.00 ERA) opposes RHP Michael King (3-0, 2.42) when the series continues Saturday night.

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