PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 21
Mar 21, 2020, 6:06 am
Courtesy photo
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
4-6-1-3
BIG EM C is a win machine and should be tough
SECOND
6-8-7-3
PADDLE WHEEL should get a nice trip behind the dueling front-runners
THIRD
4-6-1-3
LETHAL MOVE is consistent and fits well in this spot
FOURTH
6-1-2-3
GOLD PILOT is in sharp form and beat many of these in last
FIFTH
1-4-7-6
GEE SHE SPARKLES needed last and should take a step forward
SIXTH
5-2-4-6
REDATORY thrives in these Texas bred stakes races
SEVENTH
10-4-5-9
SUGAR FOOTIN BLING has some sharp efforts coming into this
EIGHTH
7-8-4-3
TEXAS BELLE romped in last; fits well here
NINTH
8-7-5-1
HES OUR FASTEST has been knocking heads with some tough runners
TENTH
11-7-9-5
XINGFU should be better with return to the turf course
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The Astros know how to win these games, and it shows
Jun 29, 2025, 4:28 pm
Kyle Tucker launched a three-run homer and matched a season high with four hits against the team that traded him in December, and the Chicago Cubs routed Houston 12-3 on Saturday night to stop the Astros' five-game winning streak.
Tucker also scored four times to pace a Cubs lineup that pounded out 15 hits, including three by Dansby Swanson. Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner also went deep.
Chicago hit three homers in an inning for the second time this season during a seven-run fourth. Busch and Hoerner had back-to-back solo shots to put the Cubs on top 3-2, and Tucker’s drive made it 7-2.
The offensive outburst came in support of Colin Rea (5-3), who allowed two runs and five hits over five innings. The only blemish on his line was rookie Cam Smith’s two-run homer in the third, which briefly gave the Astros a 2-1 lead.
Smith, part of the package Houston received for Tucker, finished with two hits and has homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Lance McCullers Jr. (1-3) came off the injured list and allowed eight runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Isaac Paredes, also part of the Astros' trade return for Tucker, hit his 17th home run.
Key moment
Tucker’s three-run homer in the fourth that put the Cubs ahead 7-2.
Key stat
McCullers has a 10.89 ERA in five home starts this season, but hasn’t allowed an earned run in three road starts.
Up next
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (8-4, 2.88 ERA) opposes RHP Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.77 ERA) when the series concludes Sunday.