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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Rockets defeat the Warriors, 91-90. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Jalen Green made two free throws with 3.5 seconds left and the Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 91-90 on Wednesday night to advance to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.

Houston snapped a 15-game skid against the Warriors, winning for the first time in the series since Feb. 20, 2020. The Rockets will face Oklahoma City, which beat Dallas in the other West quarterfinal game on Tuesday night, in the semifinals on Saturday.

Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 26 points and 11 rebounds and Jabari Smith Jr. added 15 points.

Houston led by 14 before falling behind late to set up the thrilling finish.

Houston trailed by six with about 1 1/2 minutes left before Fred VanVleet made a 3-pointer and Sengun added a layup with 27 seconds to go to cut the lead to one.

Stephen Curry missed a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left and Gary Payton II grabbed the rebound, but Green intercepted his pass and was fouled by Jonathan Kuminga to set up the winning free throws.

The Warriors had a chance to win it at the buzzer but Smith blocked Brandin Podziemski’s 3-point attempt.

Takeaways

Warriors: Golden State beat the Rockets twice this season without Curry before losing Wednesday in a game where he had 19 points.

Rockets: This young team showed poise in finishing this one after squandering a double-digit lead.

Key moment

Green’s hustle on getting the ball late to draw the foul to set up the winning free throws.

Key stat

Houston won despite making just 6 of 27 3-pointers.

Up next

While Houston heads to Las Vegas this weekend, the Warriors will return to regular-season play Sunday at Dallas.

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