Sam Houston Picks: Broberg's End Zone Play in R5 Thursday January 20

SHRP is ready for another week of racing! 11-races this Thursday ... With low takeouts at 12% for wagers like the Daily Double and Pick 3s, 4s, 5, and the Space City 6, there is absolutely no reason to not be playing at "Sam." With the excellent John B. Connally Turf Course, great fields, and a solid purse structure, the team in the Bayou City is ready to trot out a fabulous Meet. It was some record-setting weeks as far as handle, so let's see what is in-store this time around!

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action from SHRP! It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Thursday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Do not forget to follow us on Twitter ... @Horseracing_USA ...

Most Likely Winner: (Race 4: Miss M J #5, 9/5):

Here is an accomplished MC sprinter from last year that will be making her 1st start of 2022. This filly is up against some Texas bred Co., and ran nicely last year at Sam … can she do it again? Well, she ended her 3-yr-old campaign at Lone Star in ALLW Co., and one would expect her maturity to be on the rise. JR Caldwell is a trainer that has earned respect, and Lane Luzzi has a good Meet going already. After a series of works on the MT, she should be able to run … and do it well! Let’s bet on it!

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #5

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 5: Zcat’s Chatain #3, 12/1):

There is nothing like a lower level claiming affair to get us all charged up. It doesn’t matter what level we are speaking of … horse racing is horse racing. Frank Hopf, the Racing Secretary at SHRP, has put together a competitive $5k race. I like a runner in here from Karl Broberg’s camp that was solid last year at Delta and Louisiana Downs. Coming over the border through Orange, I doubt the gelding will get much play. But this is Broberg we are talking about, and he knows how to spot his charges. There must be a legit reason for her coming over to H-Town. We know he will be a price, but the best news of all, is that Ry Eikleberry gets the call—Broberg’s go-to rider for the Meet. Watch out for this one, folks! Bombs away … I am going to be making a major bet on this Louisiana bred!

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #3

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 7: Dirt, 6F, AOC50k, F&M 4+):

As with all races, we want to be particularly in-tune to what the weather will do. Winter-Spring in Houston can be a mix of strong storms, and gorgeous evenings. There is going to be some moisture in the forecast, and it could make the track sloppy in the end. For starters, I would keep an eye in this race on the scratches. If Karl Broberg keeps both of his coupled entries in this race, I will be a monkey’s uncle, as the phrase goes … He usually takes one off the tote. I am not exactly sure if it will be Factual #1 or Ima Discreet Lady #1A. The former is more likely to stay in, if I was a betting man, and I am. The latter has not been going so well lately, and she used to be one of his top runners in the region.

Either one has ability at this level, but each (whoever races) is going to have to contend with Scott Gelner’s Shes Our Fastest #5. A possible favorite, this seasoned mare by Oratory looks primed after running 3rd over at Delta in a “Non-G.” Gelner is bringing over Ty Kennedy to ride, and that means he thinks she is going to win. It has been sometime since she has had to deal with a wet track, so that is a bit of an unknown. One other entry that deserves a gander, is JR Caldwell’s aptly-named Quick Quick Quick #7. This is a mare by Tiago that knows the SHRP track well. A turfer, she makes the surface switch, and deserves some respect based on her class rating. Super Sam jockey Stewart Elliott gets the call, and he knows her well.

As for a top selection, I am pretty keen on Robertino Diodoro’s Boerne #3. The Fed Biz mare gets Ry Eikleberry, but more importantly, she is dropping out of a “Non-G” race (the same as Shes Our Fastest #5), and she has a history of handling the mud. I think this is a perfect spot for her, and I am hoping too that some of the others I mentioned will end up taking significant money. Diodoro has an extensive network, and his training methods stretch across the circuit. Here is how I will play it …

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Superfecta Wheel, 3 w 1-1A/5/7 w 1-1A/5/7 w 1-1A/5/7

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enjoy some racing from “Deep in the Heart of Texas!” Best of luck on another run at Sam Houston!