PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, May 25
May 25, 2019, 6:15 am
Stone Cold Leader looks for another win 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). And that's a wrap for the 2019 racing season at SHRP. Hope you enjoyed it!
FIRST
1-5-2-7
MONA LISA TLC has been solid in both efforts
SECOND
7-4-8-5
RELEVANT JESS has been knocking on the door and might break through
THIRD
5-7-4-6
CORONITA DEL CAPO is worth a flyer at a decent price
FOURTH
5-8-9-2
MIGHT CORONA JR. has been very sharp in last two and looks tough
FIFTH
3-2-4-5
BE ZOOMIN FIRST could surprise at a decent price
SIXTH
2-9-10-6
JESS FIRE AND ICE might improve in this spot
SEVENTH
6-10-9-8
BULLET is bred to win early and works are solid
EIGHTH
6-10-2-9
BE A FREIGHT TRAIN improved in last and more of that could win this
NINTH
4-8-7-1
STONE COLD LEADER is a win machine and will be tough here
TENTH
8-7-4-2
GBH STREAKINFORGIRLS looks to break through in the last race of the meet
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Juan Soto hit his first homer with the New York Mets, helping his new team beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Friday night.
With two out in the third inning, Soto drove a 1-2 pitch from Hunter Brown deep to right for a solo shot that lifted New York to a 3-0 lead.
Soto's 390-foot shot came a day after he struck out on a full-count slider from closer Josh Hader with two on and two out in a 3-1 opening-day loss.
Before that, Soto singled and walked twice Thursday in his Mets debut. The slugger signed a record $765 million, 15-year contract as a free agent in December.
New York starter Tylor Megill (1-0) pitched five-plus innings of one-run ball. He allowed three hits, struck out six and walked one.
Edwin Díaz struck out one in a perfect ninth for his first save, finishing a three-hitter.
Brown (0-1) struck out seven in six innings. He allowed four hits and walked three.
Mark Vientos hit an RBI double for New York in the second and scored on a single by Jesse Winker.
Houston scored its only run in the fourth on Yordan Alvarez's sacrifice fly.
The Astros had a runner on first with one out in the eighth when Luisangel Acuña made a diving stop on Alvarez's grounder to second, popped up and threw to first for the out.
Houston was 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
Key moment
The Astros loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Reed Garrett struck out Alvarez before retiring Yainer Diaz on a fly ball to right-center.
Key stat
The Mets have won the last seven games started by Megill dating to Aug. 30.
Up next
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti opposes Griffin Canning when the series wraps up Saturday night. Arrighetti looks to build on a strong rookie season when his 171 strikeouts were the third-most by a rookie in franchise history.