Swipe to Return in Belmont Allowance Race

Big Chief Racing, James Justice, and Billy Shelton's Swipe, who underwent throat surgery after a sixth-place finish in the April 16 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. III), is set to make his return in a June 26 allowance race at Belmont Park.

The $77,000 entry-level allowance event at six furlongs is for 3-year-olds and up. It goes as the eighth race with a probable post time of 5:13 p.m. EDT.

Swipe, who has been overseen by Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux, since his arrival at Belmont in late May, is one of seven in the field. The 3-year-old Birdstone   colt worked five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 June 18 and is scheduled to run in $500,000 Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) July 9.

"We're hoping to use (Sunday's race) as a springboard for the Dwyer," Clark said. "He's pretty sharp. I think he'll need the race, but it all depends on how tough it comes up, obviously. He always gives a good effort."

Swipe, a $5,000 purchase at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale, has earned $608,930 in eight starts. He has only one win—in the Summer Juvenile Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course—but finished second behind champion 2-year-old male Nyquist in four consecutive graded stakes.

His stablemate, Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Exaggerator, has had a light schedule at Belmont since his 11th-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) but has "fully recovered" and "ready to go," Clark said.