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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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.