Playing the Ponies
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, Feb. 2
Feb 1, 2019, 10:30 pm
Sam Houston Race Park
Here are my selections for Saturday 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. If the races come off the turf due to rain, check out Twitter and I will update the picks. (These are the picks and format that are available on the free tip sheet at SHRP). I will be at the track from 7-9 p.m. in the special ESPN section so if you are out drop by and say hello.
FIRST
1-6-3-2
DANCE WITH ME BW has an experience edge in this group
SECOND
1-3-9-2
BIG BEN AA picks up Sasha and could turn the tables on RB TEXAS HOLDEM
THIRD
2-5-6-3
COWBOY BLING did not seem to like the Delta surface; good record here
FOURTH
7-2-1-5
WAVE OF PERFECTION has been inconsistent but best effort wins this
FIFTH
5-11-1-4
FRILLY FRILL has a sharp work for debut and should handle the grass
SIXTH
4-6-1-3
PAULAS BUDDY seems to be better at this distance and might get it done
SEVENTH
6-8-11-10
BLOWIN SMOKE has been competing on some difficult circuits
EIGHTH
1-2-5-6
Overwhelmed in last, but ALEX'S BOURBON was sharp before that effort
NINTH
11-9-2-7
Will try to get out with a long shot in MIDWATCH who should fare better sprinting
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Luis Robert Jr. homered, Shane Smith pitched six effective innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Edgar Quero had two RBIs as last-place Chicago won for the fourth time in five games.
Robert hit a run-scoring double in the second and his sixth homer in the fourth, a solo drive to left-center off Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2). He also made a sliding catch on Jake Meyers' liner to center in the eighth, stranding runners on the corners.
Smith (3-3) allowed one run and seven hits in his second straight win.
Grant Taylor, one of Chicago's top prospects, worked a 1-2-3 seventh in his major league debut. He hit 101.5 mph on his first pitch, a ball to Victor Caratini.
Brandon Eisert handled the ninth for his second save.
Isaac Paredes and Yainer Diaz each hit a sacrifice fly for Houston in the opener of a six-game homestand. McCullers permitted four runs and four hits in five innings.
Chicago scored two runs in the third to open a 3-0 lead. With two out and the bases loaded, Quero hit a two-run single to left.
Key moment
Meyers and Caratini hit back-to-back singles in the fourth, but Shane Smith got Cam Smith to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Key stat
Smith has won back-to-back starts for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old right-hander went into the game leading all MLB rookies with a 2.45 ERA.
Up next
Sean Burke (3-6, 4.03 ERA) is expected to pitch Wednesday for the White Sox against Ryan Gusto (3-3, 4.78 ERA) in the second of a three-game series.