PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 16 (with bonus selections for Oaklawn)
Mar 16, 2019, 9:14 am
Coady photography
Here are my selections for Saturday. 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). Also, it is Rebel Day at Oaklawn, and the race was split in two divisions. If you are looking for some simulcast action before Sam starts...Good luck today!
OAKLAWN PLAYS
Race 8: The Rebel Division I: Improbable makes his first start of the year and is a 3-5 favorite. He will be tough, but I like No. 2 Long Range Toddy to turn in a better effort today. So will play No. 2 across the board, and box him in a few exactas with No. 9 Improbable.
Race 9: The Essex: Not a real strong opinion here but will wheel No. 6 Heavy Roller up and down with the field in exactas.
Race 10: The Rebel Division 2: Game Winner is the champ and a solid favorite, but again it is his first start of the year. If we are going to get him, it will be here. I will use No. 8 Gunmetal Gray wheeled in the exactas and trifectas with the the 2-5-6-7-10.
SAM HOUSTON SELECTIONS
FIRST
2-5-4-1
DANCE DOCTOR was dull in last but hooked some runners; priors put him right there
SECOND
4-1-2-7
RARE POPPY just does not like to win but gets one last chance
THIRD
6-8-2-1
A PLACE REMEMBERED gets back on the lawn where he has a strong record
FOURTH
2-7-6-4
AUDACIOUS ANGEL was a little flat in last but should bounce back
FIFTH
5-6-10-7
OH MY GOSH BECKY is bred to love the grass and could surprise at a big price
SIXTH
1-4-6-2
NIGHT STRIKE takes a step up off a very strong win and could repeat
SEVENTH
3-6-7-5
SARABI will be hard to get around here at a short price
EIGHTH
4-6-1-3
SHES A TEXAN looks like the best of a struggling group
NINTH
4-10-8-5
DIZZY KITTEN has every right to improve in start No. 2.
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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.