PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 14
Mar 14, 2020, 6:50 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
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
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.