PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Wednesday, March 17
Mar 18, 2020, 6:45 am
Bigger Picture won Sunday's Connally Turf Cup. 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
6-1-7-3
GOLIATH RIDGE keeps getting closer and might finally break through
SECOND
2-6-1-5
LEMON ROSES should thrive with added distance and offers good value
THIRD
1-7-4-2
GAME SET AND MATCH has been OK in last two vs. better
FOURTH
8-7-2-3
BRENDA'S AN I FULL should be tough if race stays on turf
FIFTH
2-9-10-8
JUDY'S PRIZE was in tough in last and could pop at a price
SIXTH
6-1-3-4
KATE'S SECOND SILVER should be competitive in this spot
SEVENTH
3-9-11-10
MILLI STAR could offer some nice value; should do well at this distance
EIGHTH
7-6-8-1
MISS FUNNY GUN plunges in class and that should do the trick
NINTH
3-7-5-4
BANDY'S MAP gets in for a tag and should improve here
TENTH
4-6-7-3
BLACKROCK CASTLE could thrive with the surface switch and stretch out
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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.