Shine Upon returns in Belmont feature

ELMONT, N.Y. − Shine Upon, an undefeated 3-year-old filly who has been sidelined since March with an ankle injury, launches her comeback in a $54,000 second-level allowance for fillies and mares, the feature on the 10-race Sunday card at Belmont Park. The race will be run at 6 1/2 furlongs and has an optional claiming price of $50,000.

A New York-bred trained by Jimmy Jerkens, Shine Upon is 3 for 3 heading into Sunday’s race, in which she will face four rivals. It will be her first start since she won the Dreamy Mimi overnight stakes at one mile and 70 yards over the inner track at Aqueduct on March 11, when she made her first start in a route and against open company.

“She’s classy,” Jerkens said. “They may not have been the best horses around, but still, first time going long against open company, you have to have class to do that. Going up in class and distance at the same time is always hard.”

Sunday’s start will be Shine Upon’s first away from the Big A. After scoring her maiden win in November, she remained in New York with trainer Mike Hushion while Jerkens wintered in Florida. Shine Upon rolled to a first-level allowance win before the Dreamy Mimi.

An ankle chip was detected after the race and required surgery, wiping out a chunk of her 3-year-old season. Now back in the Jerkens barn, Shine Upon appears ready for action following a string of steady works.

“This looks like a nice spot to get her back,” Jerkens said. “It looks like she got stronger with the time off. We just want to get her back and see how she is. It’s bad luck to make plans too far ahead.”

Simply Spiteful also exits a stakes race, the $200,000 Jostle at Philadelphia Park, where she was boxed in on the turn and finished fifth. Her previous start resulted in a dominant first-level allowance victory, also at Philly Park.

Trainer Mike Trombetta will equip Simply Spiteful with blinkers for the first time Sunday.

Girlfrienontheside is the only runner carrying the $50,000 tag. Her last four races have been on the turf. Most recently, Girlfrienontheside was 11th in her season debut, the Candy Éclair Stakes at Monmouth Park.

It has been just over a year since Reforestation delivered her career highlight, a third in Belmont’s Grade 1 Prioress Stakes.

Ain’t Love Grand completes the field.