PLAYING THE PONIES

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 14

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 14
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
3-7-4-5
FINAL EXAM facd tough company in last; priors make him competitive


SECOND
3-1-5-6
NACOGDOCHES has been a money burner but might have found the right spot


THIRD
4-8-6-3
UNCORKED HUMOR should thrive at this distance


FOURTH
3-7-6-4
LOVELY LADY might wake up with the big drop in class


FIFTH
3-2-6-5
EMPRESSIVE REWARD has solid connections and some decent efforts

SIXTH
3-2-8-4
RANCHO BARGO might have found a good spot for a breakthrough


SEVENTH
3-7-6-1
GEOSCIENCE has flashed speed in both starts and should be in the mix


EIGHTH
8-5-2-7
CAIRO KING heads a pair of Asmussen runners that could win this

NINTH
2-3-6-5

WHISKEY FACTOR has nice works over the track and some decent efforts in his three starts

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The Astros beat the Phillies, 2-1. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.

Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.

Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.

Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!

Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.

Key moment

Smith’s RBI.

Key stat

Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.

Up next

The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.

The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).

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