Voss hoping Dreadnaught's next

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Tom Voss made the right call last week, avoiding some of the heavy hitters in the turf division in the United Nations Stakes by sending Always First to Arlington Park for the Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap.

Voss was tempted by the $750,000 purse and the prospect of a small field at Monmouth Park for the United Nations on July 7. In the end, the decision panned out as Always First won by a nose at Arlington July 4 while English Channel torched the track record in the United Nations.

"It didn't set up very well for him, but he won anyway," Voss said of Always First. "We weren't going to win at Monmouth. I know that."

Voss hopes to bag another turf stakes Sunday at Belmont Park with Dreadnaught in the Grade 2, $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap.

Although run at the same 1 3/8-mile distance but for a fraction of the United Nations purse, the Bowling Green could have a solid lineup. Belmont stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes lists Barastraight, Dynaglider, Fishy Advice, Shakis, Sunriver, and Trippi's Storm as other likely runners.

The Bowling Green will be Dreadnaught's third start since shipping up to New York from Florida. The late-running gelding rallied from 10th to get fifth in the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes on the Preakness undercard.

Most recently, Dreadnaught lost by a head to the pacesetting Tune of the Spirit in the Sussex Stakes June 23 at Delaware Park.

"It was a good race," Voss said. "The horse that won the race got an easy half and loves that turf course. We finished good, but the other horse just never stopped running."

Fishy Advice will be looking for his first graded victory in the Bowling Green. A 5-year-old trained by David Donk, he was nominated to the United Nations following a rallying victory in his season debut in Monmouth's Battlefield Stakes on June 17. The time of 1:46.08 broke the course record for 1 1/8 miles.

"We were going in the United Nations only if English Channel or Better Talk Now didn't run," Donk said. "It was just a saver, in case the race fell apart. It was also back a week quicker than I would have liked."

Fishy Advice has been consistent over the last two seasons with a record of 4-2-0 in 6 starts. The major concern with him is distance, as he has been primarily running at 1 1/8 miles.

"I always wanted to stretch him out and thought this was my first opportunity," Donk said.

Gimme Credit in Poker

Saturday's feature is also on the grass - the Grade 3, $100,000 Poker Handicap at a mile.

Byrnes lists Art Master, Carnera, Classic Campaign, Gimme Credit, Jet Propulsion, and Leadwithyourchin as likely runners.

Gimme Credit, a New York-bred, steps up into a graded stakes for the first time following a hard-charging victory in open company in the seven-furlong Notoriety Stakes here June 17.

"He settled in nicely behind horses and just needed to find a seam," said trainer Tim Hills. "When he found that daylight, he really exploded. It was an extremely impressive race. I got a lot of compliments on how quickly he accelerated once he got a spot to make his move."

NYRA brass preview Saratoga

New York Racing Association president and CEO Charles Hayward and racing secretary P.J. Campo are on the panel of the Saratoga preview program on July 23 at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

The Saratoga preview, free and open to the public, begins at 7 p.m. in the Hall of Fame gallery.