Go Robin seeks her first stakes win in Politely

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Go Robin landed in Mark Hennig's barn by mistake. She is still there, and winning races.

Go Robin will try for her first stakes victory Sunday at Monmouth Park in the $60,000 Politely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Politely serves as the prep for the Grade 3, $150,000 Matchmaker Stakes here on Aug. 6.

Go Robin has been on a solid roll this season with 3 wins in 5 starts. She tackled one stakes this year, the Hollywood Wildcat Breeders' Cup at Calder on April 29, where she flattened out in the lane to finish fourth.

"I don't know why she did that," said assistant trainer and co-owner Rob Rader "She always seems to be coming. It might have been a turf course she didn't appreciate."

Go Robin rebounded to win a fourth-level allowance with a front-running effort at Delaware Park.

Go Robin has earned $191,965 since being purchased by Hennig, Rader, and Camelia J. Casby in the aftermath of an identity error.

Go Robin was misidentified as October Winds when she came off the farm and first arrived at the Hennig barn. They trained the filly for four months until the error was detected by DNA testing before either horse ran.

The real October Winds was shipped to Hennig, and the owner of Go Robin washed his hands of the confusing affair by selling the filly for $35,000.

"We should have never even seen this filly," Rader said. "We knew buying her was something we should do, because she was working against horses at Payson Park who went to Gulfstream and broke their maidens for $50,000. Mark and I have already had fun with her, and she has some broodmare value when she's done."

Smart N Classy should benefit from a class drop in the Politely. Some speed would help, too.

A closer, Smart N Classy was compromised by an absence of pace in the Grade 2 New York Breeders' Cup Handicap on July 24 at Belmont Park and finished sixth.

Distance more Slam Bammy's speed

Trainer Joe Orseno wasn't discouraged last season when Slam Bammy's lone turf race produced a 14 1/4-length defeat at seven furlongs at Woodbine.

Slam Bammy heads back to the grass for the $55,000 John McSorley Stakes at five furlongs.

"What I know now that I didn't then is that he couldn't get seven furlongs if he had a van ride for an eighth of a mile," Orseno said. "He was in front, fighting it out, until the distance caught up to him. I think he handled the grass."

Slam Bammy has already run in a pair of Monmouth dirt stakes this meet, winning the Decathlon at five furlongs and finishing second to Joey P. in the Longfellow at 5 1/2 furlongs.

With one horse to his name, Handy scores

Trainer George Handy, who turned 83 on Thursday, won his first race in over a year when Vow ($25.80) got up by a neck to take the fourth race Friday.

Handy was left horseless when owner Francis McDonnell pulled his 25-head string at the end of the 2005 Gulfstream Park meet.

Handy sought new owners, but nothing materialized. To get back into the game, Handy claimed Vow for $7,500 with his own money on June 30. The 8-year-old won right back for a $10,000 tag.

"It worked out perfect," Handy said.