PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, Feb. 22
Feb 22, 2020, 6:04 am
Coady photography
Here are my selections for Saturday 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. (These are the picks and format that are available on the free tip sheet at SHRP).
FIRST
8-7-5-4
MS PUEBLO WEST drops in class and should be in the mix
SECOND
2-7-5-6
MEGANS LAD has been running on the turf but has run well on dirt in the past
THIRD
6-3-4-7
CURLIN'S JOURNEY has been chasing talented runners; should like this spot
FOURTH
4-6-5-7
SWASHBUCKLER should like the drop in class
FIFTH
12-9-6-7
EMPIRE OF GOLD keeps coming close; this might be the night
SIXTH
12-2-9-8
CORLUNA is a consistent turf runner who should be a decent price
SEVENTH
3-2-5-4
STILLATUNE seemed to figure things out at Delta Downs
EIGHTH
11-13-2-8
MR MONEY BAGS makes turf debut but should handle the surface just fine
NINTH
5-3-2-6
GOOD JUDGEMENT dusted a nice group at Oaklawn and will be tough
TENTH
7-8-3-9
FIANCEE should be favored but the 8 could have a say as well
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Zack Short hits an RBI single in 11th inning to lift Astros over Rangers
Jul 13, 2025, 12:05 am
Wyatt Langford homered with a career-high tying four hits and Adolis García added a solo shot to lead the Texas Rangers to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
The Rangers jumped on Lance McCullers Jr. (2-4) early. There were two outs with the bases loaded in the first when Evan Carter’s single to right field knocked in a pair to put the Rangers up 2-0.
The AL West-leading Astros cut the deficit to 2-1 when Cam Smith scored on a groundout in the bottom of the inning.
García homered for a second straight game with one out in the third that made it 3-1. Carter walked with two outs before a single from Jake Burger. Jonah Heim’s double to right field scored them both to extend the lead to 5-1.
McCullers allowed six hits and five runs in three innings as Houston’s losing streak reached a season-high four games.
Langford’s blast came with two outs in the seventh to push the lead to 7-3.
Jack Leiter (5-6) yielded five hits and three runs while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings.
Christian Walker singled to open Houston’s fourth before Victor Caratini’s home run to right field got the Astros within 5-3.Burger was replaced in the middle of the sixth inning with discomfort in his left quad.
Houston’s top prospect, second baseman Brice Matthews, went 0 for 4 with with three strikeouts in his major league debut.
Key moment
Heim’s two RBI double in the third that pushed the lead to four.
Key stat
The Rangers forced McCullers to throw 36 pitches in the first inning.
Up next
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (10-4, 2.90 ERA) opposes RHP Jacob deGrom (9-2, 2.29) when the series continues Saturday.