PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 23 (with bonus picks on Lousiana Derby Day at Fair Grounds)
Mar 23, 2019, 6:35 am
Mr. Money Man is back tonight. 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). I will be making an appearance from 7-9 at the ESPN area by the Jockey Club. Come by and say hello. I will have a couple picks I like I will share in person.
Also, it is Louisiana Derby Day at Fair Grounds. Below are a couple of plays:
FAIR GROUNDS
Race 10, New Orleans Handicap: This is a wide open race with lots of speed, stalkers and closers balanced out nicely. I am going to play No. 3 Souper Tapit across the board at 6-1. He lost all chance at the start of his last at Oaklawn, but his prior two efforts put him right there. Better start should put him in the hunt.
Race 13, Louisiana Derby: War of Will is the 6-5 favorite and has done little wrong. But he is also not all that fast; any one of several horses could improve. We will look at Sueno, who is improving and has been consistent. We will wheel him first and second in the exactas with several potential horses that could also improve including the favorite. So the bet will be 4 with 1-2-3-5-6-8-10-11 and 1-2-3-5-6-8-10-11 with 4.
SHRP SELECTIONS
FIRST
6-4-3-1
HI HEAT BOY has been nibbling and maybe feasts on the whole thing tonight
SECOND
2-3-6-1
SHES OUR FASTEST has been in tough and should be in the mix here
THIRD
4-1-6-2
TEXAS BELLE is in sharp form and will take some beating in this spot
FOURTH
3-4-1-2
DIRECT DIAL was in tough in last, has good speed and a recency edge over the favorite
FIFTH
2-3-9-6
IMA DISCREET LADY should get a nice stalking trip here and should be tough
SIXTH
6-3-1-4
MR MONEY BAGS has big goals and should turn in another big effort
SEVENTH
2-7-1-5
HIGHWAY SONG gets a little more distance and should thrive here
EIGHTH
8-9-6-1
COMMANDER MCDIVIT should stretch out just fine and should be in the mix
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NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
Dec 7, 2024, 2:38 pm
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.