Playing the Ponies
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, Jan. 25
Jan 25, 2020, 6:46 am
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
2-5-1-7
Will take a flyer with firster PRINCE JET in a struggling group
SECOND
6-2-3-9
MARGAUX MANIA was not bad in debut and should improve
THIRD
7-1-3-6
AKULINA has been off for a while but fits well if ready
FOURTH
3-2-4-7
CATCH THE DEVIL was not bad in debut and should improve
FIFTH
8-7-9-5
MR TICKLE is in sharp form and should handle the surface switch
SIXTH
2-1-7-4
DOMINANTE fits the conditions and should be in the mix
SEVENTH
2-7-4-1
TIGHT TEN has been off form but showed a lot of class early; good bounce back spot
EIGHTH
9-4-8-12
TA gets another shot after coming up short in meet debut
NINTH
5-6-11-8
SAMICEAN has done well over this surface in the past
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.