Playing the Ponies
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, March 9
Mar 9, 2019, 6:41 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). I will be in the ESPN section on the second floor from 7-9 p.m. so please drop by and say hello.
FIRST
9-4-2-5
DANCE WITH ME BW freaked against better in last and should be tough here
SECOND
3-2-7-6
QUICK SAND AA did not lose a race in 2018 and should be ready for another big effort
THIRD
3-6-5-7
PAY ME IN PENNIES should improve with a race over the surface
FOURTH
6-7-3-1
FINAL EXAM might have found the right spot to graduate
FIFTH
4-8-6-1
ROCK HARD SONG showed nothing in last but likely needed that start
SIXTH
2-6-1-7
ETERNAL BLING fits well in this spot and can win with her best
SEVENTH
5-6-4-2
TURBO STREET will be a short price but will try to bring some long shots home with him
EIGHTH
2-3-5-7
STOLEN GLORY should flash speed here and might be able to go the whole way
NINTH
8-4-7-6
THE BULL chased a couple nice ones in last and might get it done here
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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.