PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Tuesday, March 26
Mar 26, 2019, 6:37 am
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Here are my selections for Tuesday. 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
3-2-1-6
MS RED ROCKETTE did not show a lot in debut but should improve here
SECOND
7-8-3-2
SOUTH TEXAS DRAWL comes off a sharp effort against slightly better
THIRD
6-1-7-2
GIANT BLOSSOM has been just OK on tough circuits but should like the move to turf
FOURTH
7-1-2-8
SENATOR ROBERT has a pair of sharp efforts and should be in the mix
FIFTH
9-2-1-5
REAL GLITTER has been facing some tough runners and should do well here
SIXTH
3-1-8-5
GET THE BLING is in a good spot here and best effort should get it done
SEVENTH
5-2-3-1
TOMMY GROSSMAN was dull in last but should improve in this spot
EIGHTH
5-7-3-8
SUPER SIMPLE was a beaten favorite in last and should bounce back
NINTH
4-1-7-2
SARABI freaked in last and similar effort should get it done
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Cam Smith hit a three-run homer in his first game against the Cubs since being traded to Houston and Brandon Walter threw six solid innings in his first MLB victory as the Astros beat Chicago 7-4 on Friday night.
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/xZ9dvfZYTs
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 28, 2025
Yainer Diaz added a three-run homer as AL West-leading Houston extended its winning streak to five games.
3-run Yainer Bomb!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/4zku17xsR0
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 28, 2025
The Astros scored four runs in the third off Cubs starter Cade Horton (3-2), with Jose Altuve scoring on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini before Diaz capped the inning with his 377-foot shot to left-center.
Smith, a first-round draft selection by Chicago last year was acquired by the Astros in the offseason as part of the deal for Kyle Tucker, extended Houston’s lead to 7-0 in the fourth with his home run off the left field façade, his sixth of the season. Smith had two hits and scored two runs.
Walter (1-1), a 28-year-old left-hander, allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Josh Hader got the final out for his 22nd save.
Jeremy Peña exited in the fifth with left rib soreness. He was hit by a pitch in his left side in the second. There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury.
Nico Hoerner hit a solo home run in the fifth, and Matt Shaw added a two-run double in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth for NL Central-leading Chicago.
Horton allowed seven runs on eight hits with four walks in four innings.
Tucker was hitless in his return to Houston. He kept the game scoreless in the first, throwing Isaac Paredes out at the plate to end the frame.
Key moment
Hader inducing a lineout to center by Ian Happ to end it with Tucker, representing the tying run, on deck.
Key stat
Houston has its second five-game winning streak for the month of June, and improved to an MLB-best 18-6 this month.
Up next
Cubs RHP Colin Rea (4-3, 4.42 ERA) starts the second game of the three-game series Saturday. Houston has not named a starter.