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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Astros blank Cardinals behind big nights from Meyers and Brown
Apr 16, 2025, 8:20 am
Nolan Arenado homered and Brendan Donovan went 4 for 4, helping Sonny Gray and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 8-3 on Monday night.
Arenado also doubled twice and scored two runs in the opener of a three-game series. Donovan extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Gray (3-0) pitched seven scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one.
The Cardinals have won Gray's last eight home starts dating to last season.
Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (1-2) was tagged for seven runs — six earned — in four-plus innings. Five of the 10 hits he allowed were doubles.
Arenado hit a solo drive off Luis Contreras in the eighth. It was his second homer of the season.
The Cardinals broke it open with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Pedro Pagés hit a two-run double to make it 3-0 in the fourth. Nolan Gorman's sacrifice fly extended the lead to 7-0 in the fifth.
Donovan scored twice and drove in a run. He is batting an NL-high .391.
Houston's Jeremy Peña hit a three-run homer off Roddery Muñoz with two outs in the ninth.
Key moment
Arenado drove in the first run in the fifth. He fouled off four straight offerings in a 10-pitch at-bat before ripping an RBI double to left.
Key stat
Gray set the tone when he retired Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez in order in the first inning. The Astros’ only hit off Gray through five was catcher Yainer Diaz’s infield single in the second.
Up next
Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (1-1, 2.00 ERA) starts on Tuesday night. Right-hander Erick Fedde (1-1, 4.50 ERA) makes his fourth start for the Cardinals.