PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Wednesday, Feb. 26
Feb 26, 2020, 6:45 am
Mr. Money Man is back tonight. Coady Photography
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
7-2-5-6
QUINN ELLA drops back in for a tag and fits well here
SECOND
7-1-3-2
WILD AND GOLDEN drops in class and ran well at this level two back
THIRD
9-7-1-4
MOHAWK might enjoy the turn back in distance
FOURTH
7-5-6-4
TOASTING MASTER drops in class and should be in the mix
FIFTH
3-6-8-1
BOSTON CADILLAC is in sharp form and should appreciate this trip
SIXTH
1-9-11-10
Both halves of the entry look good on either surface
SEVENTH
8-7-2-5
ROSE LARUE has a pair of solid efforts this meet
EIGHTH
5-6-4-2
IMABARNKAT is in sharp form and should be tough in this spot
NINTH
11-7-2-6
SAGE'S EPIPHANY has a pair of wins over the surface
TENTH
5-6-1-2
MOMMA'S BABY BOY won on a tough circuit; fits well here
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Christian Walker and Yainer Diaz homered, Jesús Sánchez ended a lengthy slump with five hits and the Houston Astros beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-2 Thursday night to snap a four-game losing streak.
The Astros scored early and often against Baltimore rookie Brandon Young, who six days earlier in Houston had a perfect game ruined with two outs in the eighth inning. In the rematch, the AL West leaders built a 7-1 lead in the third and coasted.
Walker hit a two-run homer in the first, Carlos Correa singled in two runs in the second and Diaz connected in the third with a runner on after Sánchez delivered an RBI single.
Sánchez broke an 0-for-29 skid with a first-inning single and finished 5 for 5, his most productive day with Houston since being acquired from Miami in a July 31 trade. The five hits tied a career high.
Young (1-7) gave up seven runs and nine hits before leaving with one out in the sixth after hurting his left hamstring while covering first base on a grounder.
Jason Alexander (4-1) allowed two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings for Houston. Since being claimed off waivers from the Athletics on May 18, the right-hander is 4-1 with a save in eight appearances.
Dylan Beavers hit his first major league homer for Baltimore in the second inning and added a run-scoring groundout in the sixth.
The Orioles had won three straight and six of seven.
Key moment
Walker’s 17th home run with two outs in the first got the Astros rolling against Young, who yielded only one hit in Houston on Aug. 15.
Key stat
Not only did Sánchez end his slump, but Houston C Victor Caratini broke an 0-for-17 run with a second-inning single.
Up next
Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (2-4, 6.90 ERA) faces Baltimore lefty Cade Povich (2-6, 4.98) on Friday.