PLAYING THE PONIES

Sam Houston Race Park selections for Wednesday, Feb. 26

Sam Houston Race Park paddock.
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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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

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.

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