PLAYING THE PONIES

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 7

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 7
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
7-2-4-5
HIGH SPIRITS is in sharp form and could take this


SECOND

1-2-7-6
RB RICH LYKE ME rates a slim edge in a very talented group


THIRD
2-7-8-6
CYPRESS POINT stretches out off a strong effort and will be tough to catch


FOURTH
4-1-7-3
STALEMATE has not shown a lot but class drop should help


FIFTH
1-10-7-3
BRAZOS ANGEL was in tough in last; slim edge in wide open affair

SIXTH
2-4-1-6
SILVER CITY TRICK freaked in meet debut; could roll again


SEVENTH
7-6-2-1
DANCE KINGDOM drops in class and stretches out; worth a look


EIGHTH
1-3-5-7
GRADE ONE has a pair of sharp starts this meet and should be in the mix


NINTH
1-7-4-5
ADDED ATTRACTION has been in top form this meet


TENTH
9-10-8-2
CADDO FOX chased a nice one in debut and should be in the mix


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The Astros beat the Diamondbacks, 4-3. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

Christian Walker singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.

 

Zack Short and Taylor Trammell started the ninth with bunt singles against Kevin Ginkel (1-4). One out later, Walker, a former Diamondback, hit a grounder up the middle to score Short.

Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his 27th save and the Astros, who have won four in a row took a six-game lead in the AL West.

Arizona trailed 3-1 entering the eighth, but Geraldo Perdomo led off with a double off reliever Bennett Sousa (4-0). Ketel Marte singled to drive in Perdomo, Corbin Carroll doubled to right sending Marte to third. Marte scored the tying run on Josh Naylor’s single.

Brandon Walter had held the Diamondbacks to one run and four hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out five, throwing just 82 pitches.

 

Marte hit Walter’s first pitch of the game for a home run, his 20th of the season.

The Astros scored twice in the sixth. Walker led off with a double off Brandon Pfaadt, then advanced to third when Yainer Diaz also doubled. But Walker scored when shortstop Perdomo booted Brice Matthews’ grounder for an error. Diaz scored the go-ahead run on reliever Andrew Saalfrank’s wild pitch.

Houston made it 3-1 when Diaz doubled off Trevor Richards leading off the eighth and scored on Mauricio Dubón’s single.

Perdomo went 4 for 4.

Postgame reaction

Walker joined Space City Home Network after the game and discussed sweeping his former team and much more!

 

Key moment

Sousa got Arizona’s Randal Grichuk to hit into a double play with the bases loaded to end the eighth.

Key stat

Walter has only walked four batters in 53 2/3 innings this season.

Next

Arizona is off Thursday before beginning a nine-game trip Friday in Pittsburgh. Houston returns home to play the Athletics; the Astros have not announced a Thursday starter.

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