PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, May 18
May 17, 2019, 6:55 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 doing an appearance at the track from 1-3 p.m. so please drop by. Also, it is Preakness Day so check elsewhere on this site for my plays.
FIRST
1-7-2-4
FLY TOOLE FLY should benefit from better post
SECOND
5-6-4-3
CAPTAIN VALOR looks very solid in this spot
THIRD
7-5-4-1
LA GRAN VALENTINA just missed in last and fits well here
FOURTH
3-6-5-2
LOTTA CASH ON THE FLY has not shown much but clean trip would help
FIFTH
9-6-1-3
ONE SWEET KO has improved in each start
SIXTH
7-6-2-5
MOMAS DEALING has two sharp efforts in a row
SEVENTH
9-4-2-7
SO BANG THE IVORIES was dull in last but deserves another shot
EIGHTH
8-6-4-5
JLS RUSTYSPECIALPIE has been off for a while but could surprise
NINTH
7-1-4-6
VIOLETA LUNA should improve off a decent debut
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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.