PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Wednesday, March 13
Mar 13, 2019, 6:30 am
Courtesy photo
Here are my selections for Wednesday. 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). I like the races on the second half of the card best of all, starting with race five.
FIRST
1-2-7-4
KITCHEN BOSS/JOYABLE
Entry looks double tough but might get a price behind them with the 2 horse
SECOND
7-6-4-3
GRACEFUL RULES should be tough in second start with new barn
THIRD
1-7-3-2
SNOOSE SASA wheels right back after chasing a horse in sharp form
FOURTH
1-5-9-10
SAMICEAN is always a threat on this turf course
FIFTH
5-10-3-2
XIROMA
Was a beaten favorite on a tough circuit in last and should be in the mix here
SIXTH
1-4-3-5
WILD WILL beat a tough crew at Oaklawn in last and could repeat
SEVENTH
9-5-2-1
IRREPLACEABLE did not show much in debut but bred to be very good
EIGHTH
2-5-4-1
EYE ON HARPER seems to be well spotted here and should be in the mix
NINTH
4-7-1-3
ARCH HALO is a first-time starter with OK works and good turf breeding
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The Houston Astros placed right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right foot Monday before his scheduled start against the Athletics.
The move, which is retroactive to Friday, comes after McCullers made seven starts this year in his return after missing two full seasons with various arm injuries.
Rookie right-hander Ryan Gusto will start in his place Monday as the AL West-leading Astros open a four-game series against the Athletics.
McCullers is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA this season. He allowed four hits and four runs while striking out six in five innings of a 4-2 loss to the White Sox in his last start on Tuesday.
The injury to McCullers is the latest in a string of injuries to the Astros rotation. Houston starters Hayden Wesneski and Ronel Blanco are both out for the season after having Tommy John surgery and right-hander Spencer Arrighetti has been sidelined since April after breaking his right thumb in a batting practice mishap.
They also are missing right-handers Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier, who are both still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Astros recalled right-hander Jason Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land to take his spot on the roster.