Retama Park track report

Fly Slama Jama stamped himself as the early favorite for the $100,000 Texas Hall of Fame Stakes when he defeated open company in Saturday night's $50,000 Retama Park Turf Breeders' Cup Handicap. The Hall of Fame is restricted to horses bred in Texas and will be run at Retama on Sept. 18.

Fly Slama Jama won the Hall of Fame last year in front-running fashion, and also won a recent allowance at Lone Star Park the same way. But things were different in the Retama Park Turf. Fly Slama Jama settled off the pace in the early stages, then exploded for a five-length win over favorite Virginia Pride. He was ridden by Casey Lambert.

Fly Slama Jama was trainer John Locke's second turf stakes winner in a week. He sent out Topango to win the $50,000 Senorita at Louisiana Downs on July 24. Fly Slama Jama races for Hubert Bell Jr., while Topango is owned by HSB Racing. Both horses are based at Retama.