PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Wednesday, Feb. 19
Feb 19, 2020, 6:50 am
Here are my selections for Wednesday 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
4-5-1-2
LUCKY QUEEN takes a big class drop for a high percentage barn
SECOND
2-7-3-4
GOLIATH RIDGE was well back in meet debut but could pop in this spot
THIRD
6-3-4-1
REAL DE JALPA had a string of solid efforts at Hawthorne before last; back to dirt
FOURTH
4-11-1-2
TJB OORAH should improve off of even debut; Kitten's Joys usually love the grass
FIFTH
2-10-6-5
JESSICA'S ARCH has solid efforts vs. open company in New Mexico and solid record at SHRP
SIXTH
3-2-10-8
FIREWATER JAKE has some big efforts on tough circuits
SEVENTH
7-2-1-6
Lightly raced LONG WEEKEND has some sharp works for 2020 debut
EIGHTH
7-1-9-2
TOUCH EM UP did not show much at Oaklawn but prior races put him in the mix
NINTH
10-13-6-3
BRENDAS AN I FULL should be very tough if this stays on the grass
TENTH
1-6-10-3
CHACHING BLING has solid works, hot trainer and win early sire for debut
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Critical levers Astros can pull as health concerns, deadline pressures grow
Jul 10, 2025, 3:46 pm
Jake Meyers is the latest Astro to be rushed back from injury too soon. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.
Houston center fielder Jake Meyers was removed from Wednesday night’s game against Cleveland during pregame warmups because of right calf tightness.
Meyers, who had missed the last two games with a right calf injury, jogged onto the field before the game but soon summoned the training staff, who joined him on the field to tend to him. He remained on the field on one knee as manager Joe Espada joined the group. After a couple minutes, Meyers got up and was helped off the field and to the tunnel in right field by a trainer.
Mauricio Dubón moved from shortstop to center field and Zack Short entered the game to replace Dubón at shortstop.
Meyers is batting .308 with three homers and 21 RBIs this season.
After the game, Meyers met with the media and spoke about the injury. Meyers declined to answer when asked if the latest injury feels worse than the one he sustained Sunday. Wow, that is not a good sign.
Asked if this calf injury feels worse than the one he sustained on Sunday, Jake Meyers looked toward a team spokesman and asked "do I have to answer that?" He did not and then politely ended the interview.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 10, 2025
Lack of imaging strikes again!
The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported on Thursday that the Astros didn't do any imaging on Meyers after the initial injury. You can't make this stuff up. This is exactly the kind of thing that has the Astros return-to-play policy under constant scrutiny.
The All-Star break is right around the corner, why take the risk in playing Meyers after missing just two games with calf discomfort? The guy literally fell to the ground running out to his position before the game started. The people that make these risk vs. reward assessments clearly are making some serious mistakes.
The question remains: will the Astros finally do something about it?