Jerkens has heart surgery

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was expected to be released from a Long Island hospital Thursday following surgery to put in two stents to clear blocked arteries, according to his wife, Shirley.

Jerkens, 59, had a stress test Monday morning and then underwent surgery later that afternoon, according to Shirley Jerkens.

“He had some blockage, they put two stents in, he’s doing a lot better,” she said Wednesday.

Shirley Jerkens said she expects her husband to be at his Belmont Park barn Friday morning.

“He’ll go to the barn every day, but he’s going to have to take it easy, if that’s possible” she said.

Jimmy Jerkens, the son of the late Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens, has won 783 races since going out on his own in 1997. On Saturday, he won the Grade 2 King Edward at Woodbine with Delta Prince.