PLAYING THE PONIES

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, May 3

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Friday, May 3
Eyesa Jess Jumpin will be in action Friday at Sam Houston Race Park. 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). I will be in the special ESPN section from 8-10 p.m. so drop by and say hello.

FIRST

4-3-8-1

CATHY JOE was solid in debut and should improve here


SECOND
8-4-3-1
SMASHED GOL just missed in meet debut and should take a step forward


THIRD
2-1-5-3
EIGHT TOMORROWS has lots of experience and maybe tonight is the night


FOURTH

9-8-5-6
CH BODACIOUS BUG has been in tough and fits well here


FIFTH
2-1-4-3
CLASS WITH FLASH will need to improve but fits well here


SIXTH
9-8-2-1
IMA DASHIN LEADER turned in a big effort in last and should be in the mix


SEVENTH

1-9-8-6
EYESA JESS JUMPIN has finished first in eight of his last nine


EIGHTH

4-9-2-10
TRUMP MY RECORD is on a roll to start off his career

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The Astros beat the White Sox, 10-2. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Christian Walker homered among his three hits and had a season-high four RBIs to lead the Houston Astros over the Chicago White Sox 10-2 on Wednesday night.

Jose Altuve added two hits to give him 2,300 in his career, joining Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (2,342) as the only active players with at least 2,300.

Altuve got things going with an RBI double in the first. There were two outs in the inning when Walker homered to left field off Sean Burke (3-7) to make it 3-0.

Houston starter Ryan Gusto (4-3) allowed seven hits and two runs with a season-best seven strikeouts in a season-high six innings.

Josh Rojas had two hits for the White Sox, who fell to 7-27 on the road.

Altuve singled with two outs in the third before Yainer Diaz walked. Walker then smacked a line drive to center field for a double to score them both and push the lead to 5-0.

There was one out in the fourth when Cam Smith hit a ground-rule double. With two outs, Jeremy Peña doubled on a ball that bounced off the wall in left field to make it 6-0. Isaac Paredes followed with another RBI double to chase Burke, who yielded eight hits and seven runs — both career highs — in 3 2/3 innings.

Rojas singled in the fifth and moved to third on a ground-rule double by Vinny Capra. Rojas scored on a groundout by Mike Tauchman to cut it to 7-1. Miguel Vargas hit an RBI single to make it 7-2.

Paredes had three hits and two RBIs to help the Astros snap a two-game skid.

Key moment

Walker’s home run that put Houston up 3-0 early.

He talked about his big night following the game.

Key stat

Walker had just two RBIs in his previous six games.

Up next

Houston LHP Framber Valdez (6-4, 3.07 ERA) opposes RHP Davis Martin (2-6, 3.62) when the series concludes Thursday night.

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