Sam Houston: Locke has early, late threats

Trainer John Locke appears to have both ends of the pace spectrum covered with his entry of Fly Slama Jama and Oncearoundtwice in the $40,000 Buffalo Bayou at Sam Houston Race Park.

A competitive field of 12 will go in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up, including Middleweight, Crowned King, and Charming Socialite.

Fly Slama Jama enters the Buffalo Bayou off a fourth-place finish in a quick-paced $100,000 Texas Hall of Fame Stakes at Retama on Oct. 1, while Oncearoundtwice was a troubled second in the track's $40,000 No Le Hace on Oct. 15. Both drew outside posts for the Buffalo Bayou.

"Fly Slama Jama usually likes to lay up close, and we won't keep him from it," said Locke. "And then, of course, we'll try to get back off the pace with Oncearoundtwice and see if we can finish some with him."

Oncearoundtwice used his late run to win the $100,000 Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint at Lone Star Park in May, and last out rallied strongly despite being fanned seven wide in the No Le Hace.

Justin Shepherd has the mount on Oncearoundtwice, while Guadalupe Macias Jr. will ride multiple stakes winner Fly Slama Jama.

Middleweight could go favored on the heels of his third-place finish in the $125,000 Louisiana Downs Handicap in his last start Oct. 2. One start earlier, he won the $50,000 Sport City at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 4. Trainer Al Stall Jr. has given the mount to Gerard Melancon.