PLAYING THE PONIES

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Tuesday, March 17

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Tuesday, March 17
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Here are my selections for Tuesday 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
3-6-4-1
CONTENDRESS was solid in meet debut and could move forward


SECOND
3-5-4-2
PEPPERMINT MATCH should improve off claim


THIRD
5-1-6-2
CURTSEYTOTHEKITTEN should improve in this spot


FOURTH
5-1-6-7
JESSICA'S ARCH popped at a big price in last and can repeat


FIFTH
1-4-10-6
WHENTHEPENNYDROPS should be set up for a nice effort

SIXTH
4-8-5-11
SNEEM could turn the tables in this spot


SEVENTH
8-6-1-4
APPROVETHISMESSAGE should improve with move back to main track


EIGHTH
3-5-4-7
SPUN LINE switches back to dirt and should respond


NINTH
5-3-4-2
RUNNINGWSCISSORS has been racing on tough circuits


TENTH
2-12-11-1
CADDO FOX has chased some tough ones and might break through


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The Astros beat the Phillies, 2-1. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.

Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.

Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.

Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!

Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.

Key moment

Smith’s RBI.

Key stat

Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.

Up next

The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.

The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).

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