present s
SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK LIVE RACING TIP SHEET
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH
Tom Harris
Fred Faour
The voice of Sam Houston Race Park.
Infamous ESPN personality and expert handicapper.
RACE
TOM
FRED
1
DONTCLOSEYOUREYES
Steps back to what should be a winning level.
2
UNCHAINED ENERGY
Looms the late running threat here.
3
CASHS GAL
Responded well in last one.
4
DONNAS ROYAL SLOT
Saw nothing but tough all last year.
5
MEME JO
Looks good for another one.
TOTAL WINS: 38
2-4-6-1
1A-4-2-5
5-1-2-3
7-4-3-1
2-8-3-1
7-4-3-2
6
IBAKA
Should be strong at this level.
7
UNDER REVIEW
Finds a spot to shine here.
8
LEGITIMATE CAT
Game effort at first asking.
9
COED KATE
Just missed in season debut.
10
NAPLES GOLD
Seems to be closing in on a score now.
7-3-4-8
10-1-2-4
9-3-5-2
8-2-6-7
TOTAL WINS: 43
r.
4-7-6-2
PIPPA OKIE
was a solid second at this level in last and should improve
1-7-5-2
UNCHAINED ENERGY
is the more intriguing half of the entry
7-5-1-2
APACHE BELLE
drops in class and stretches out; could surprise
7-3-1-4
DONNA’S ROYAL SLOT
has been competitive in stakes cmopany
8-2-7-1
HAMMER THE BAY chased a
brilliant sprinter in last; similar effort wins this
7-2-5-4
IBAKA returns to one of his favorite surfaces but faces a strong group.
Don’t take too short of a price
8-9-6-4
MYSTICAL VISION
just missed when last racing for a claiming tag
4-2-7-10
LOOKIN AT DAISY is well bred,
nice works, sharp barn, should be ready
2-9-5-8
We’ll take a flyer with EXPAND THE MOMENT
to pull off a mild upset over COED KATE
8-9-10-6
NAPLES GOLD
needed last and looks tough here
TEXAS MIKE’S
MONEY MAKERS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH
(Follow Texas Mike on Twitter @texasmike001)
RACE
SONG VERSE OF THE NIGHT
ANOTHER FRIDAY NIGHT AND I AIN’T GOT NOBODY, GOT SOME MONEY CAUSE I JUST GOT PAID, HOW
r.
I WISH FOR A WINNER OR TWO, I’LL BE IN A WONDERFUL WAY.
1
Not sure about Texas Mike’s ability to paraphrase an old song, maybe he started too early with 50 cent beer. But he does pick a few winners every now and then, and in this race at a mile and 70 yards on the dirt track, the selection is #4 (Papa Okie). Papa Okie (who of course was bred
in Oklahoma) has finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd (“in the money”) in 6 of his last 7 races. Three weeks ago at SHRP he finished 2nd against this same
level of horses and at the same distance. A repeat of that performance will get the win tonight. Also respect #7 (Lainey Luck).
2
Like the first race, this one is at 1 mile and 70 yards on the dirt. The favorite based on recent form will probably be the #1A. But those recent
races were on a synthetic surface at Turfway Park in Kentucky. And his lone win was on a grass or turf track. His races on dirt have been nothing
special. So we have a vulnerable favorite who Texas Mike will try to beat with #7 (Mike’s Halo). And the name of the horse did not influence this
selection. ☺
3
This is a maiden race at one mile for Texas bred horses. A maiden race means it is for horses who have never won. The 8 horses in this race
are a combined 0 for 31. In this situation will look to horses with the lesser number of races who could improve as opposed to horses who have
had their chances and not won. #5 (Cash’s Gal) fits this profile. She has a top trainer in Danny Pish and a top jockey in Deshawn Parker. She
has raced 3 times and showed good improvement in her last race when stretching out to one mile for the first time.
4
Texas Mike will play a 3 horse $1 Exacta Box here. The horses in the box are #1(Witt Six), #3 (Plaska), and #4(Gold Flight). The total cost of the
wager is $6. To cash the ticket, any 2 of these horses must finish 1st and 2nd.
But a little more explanation needed. There is also horse #1A in this race (Witt’s Lizard). They have the same owner and trainer, so for betting
purposes, they are an “entry.” To bet either the 1 or the 1A, you bet on #1 and get two horses for the price of 1. A bet on either horse is a bet on
both of them. So in our exacta wager for example, if the 1A, the 1 and the 3 run 1st, 2nd and 3rd, the winning exacta numbers would be the 1 and
the 3. If the 3, the 1 and the 1A run 1st, 2nd and 3rd, the winning exacta numbers would be 3 and 1.
Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? ☺
5
Last call for one more 50 cent beer. (Now that is much easier to understand.)
All the races so far tonight have been on the outer dirt track. Race 5 is on the inner grass or turf track.
The selection is #8 (Hammer the Bay). He has been in the money in 9 out of his 10 races on grass including finishing 2nd in his last two races
both at SHRP, so we know he likes the track. He had a lifetime best 93 speed rating in his last race. The concern is a bounce or regression after
that super effort. If that happens, then look out for #2 (Meme Jo) and #6 (Final Time).
6
#7 (Ibaka) won two stakes races last year at SHRP (Stakes races generally include the best horses at any given track.) For those who want to try
a horse at possibly higher odds, consider #5 (Holiday Mischief). His last 4 races are not encouraging, but they were all on the grass. This race is
on the dirt where he has been much better (including a win last year at SHRP).
7
This is a turf race at 1 mile. There are 10 horses in the races and Texas Mike (who is a retired lawyer) can’t make a case for any of them. So
pick a name or a number and good luck. It is in these situations where a longshot often emerges, so don’t be afraid to take a flyer. Say maybe #5
(Blue and Cold). He has never run on the grass and he has a little breeding for the lawn. While he has been mostly a sprinter (races at less than
a mile), his one race at route or a distance (races at one mile or more) was respectable (finished 3rd out of 12 horses but at a slow time). Really
have to hope he takes to grass and improves big time. It is possible. And that is the best case that can be made here. Let’s see what the racing
gods (the jury) decide.
8
This is a maiden race with 12 horses who between them have raced only 17 times. There are 4 horses in the race who are first time starters. So not
a lot of history to work with. #10 (Legitimate Cat) ran 2nd out of 6 horses in his first race. He has a top trainer (Steve Asmussen) who wins at a 25%
clip with maidens in their 2nd start. Two other horse who showed some improvement in their last start and could take another step forward at higher
odds would be #9 (Chitoz Heart) and #12 (N C C Joey).
9
This is a one mile race on the dirt. #10 (Coed Kate) showed great improvement last time out in her first race at SHRP plus she retains leading
jockey Deshawn Parker as her pilot. #3 (Delmersmiracle) has not done much lately but most of her recent races have been sprints. She is better
at longer distances and has handled both turf and dirt surfaces at 1 mile or more. One of her better if not her best race in the last year was at
one mile on the dirt. #2 (Expand the Moment) won her last race and was claimed (purchased) by trainer Karl Broberg who wins at a 25% rate
with horses in their first start after a claim.
10
To close out the night, we have another race on the turf at 1 mile. Texas Mike will play a 50 cent 4 horse trifecta box. The total cost of the wager
is $12. To cash the ticket any 3 of the 4 horses must finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The 4 horses in the box are #4 (Whimsical Miss), #6 (Green Briar
Kitty), #8 (Naples Gold) and #10 (Touched by Faith).
Thank you for being a SHRP guest tonight. Hope you had fun and will return soon. Texas Mike will give a free admission pass for next Friday to
the first 20 people who go to the Players Lounge Desk (north side of building on the first floor) after the 10th race.