Selma, Texas (July 31, 2004) - Hubert Bell, Jr.'s homebred 6-year-old gelding Fly Slama Jama made short work of his foes in tonight's $50,000 Retama Park Turf Breeders' Cup Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward, overcoming traffic trouble and drawing away late for a facile five-length triumph. He covered the 1 1/16-miles distance in a fleet 1:41.97 over a firm turf course.

Monty Man jumped right out to a clear early lead in the race, while jockey Casey Lambert was reserving Fly Slama Jama in midpack. Lambert and Fly Slama Jama found themselves blocked from about the 7/16ths pole until the 1/4-pole, but once a hole opened around the 1/4-pole, they split horses and took off. From there, nobody was going to catch them.

Fly Slama Jama opened up a 2 1/2-length lead by the eighth pole, and he doubled that margin by the wire over favored Virginia Pride.

Classoffiftyseven rallied late to take second place, 1 3/4 lengths behind Virginia Pride. It was another 2 3/4 lengths to Lights on Broadway in fourth place, who was followed under the wire by Saxton's Engine, April's Lucky Boy, Monty Man, and Sandburr.

Trained by John Locke, Fly Slama Jama is a son of To Freedom out of the Shining So Bright mare Maud M.

Honorable Pic, Ship of the Line, and Excessive Behavior were scratched.