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Jerkens released from hospital Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens' first order of business after being released Wednesday morning from Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in New Hyde Park, New York, was to visit his barn at Belmont Park. "He came home, and said, 'I'd like to see the horses,'" said his wife, Elizabeth. "We drove him to the barn and he sat on the bench outside, and they brought out every single one of the horses for him." Jerkens, 79, was admitted to Long Island Jewish Hospital in New Hyde Park last month with shortness of breath, then underwent surgery to repair two heart valves on October 20 and had a pacemaker installed eight days later. Although he plans on visiting his barn regularly, it will be some time before he ventures out aboard his stable pony, Circus. "They don't really recommend it, because of the pacemaker," Jerkens said. "We'll have to figure out something." Although he did not get a racing channel in his room, Jerkens met daily with assistant trainer Fernando Abreu, and has been following his horses closely. Saturday, Whirling Agatha (Volponi) gave Jerkens his first winner of the Aqueduct meet, closing from last to win the 1ST race by 4 1/4 lengths. It was Jerkens' first victory since Different Drummer (Distorted Humor) won the 2ND race at Belmont Park on October 24. His other winner during the Fall Championship meet was Merchant Marine (Tiznow), who captured the Devil Diver S. on September 7. "We haven't been setting the world on fire," Jerkens said. "Even at Saratoga, we won only a few races." Among those were Any Limit (Limit Out), who rolled to a 5 3/4-length decision in the Honorable Miss H. (G2) at the Spa, and the five-year-old mare is being pointed toward the Top Flight H. (G2) at the Big A on November 28. Jerkens said he may also start So Glitzy (Gilded Time), who exits a third in the Turnback the Alarm H. (G3), in the Top Flight as well. Shortly after Thanksgiving, Jerkens plans to head, as usual, to Florida for the winter. While racing doesn't begin at Gulfstream Park until the New Year, Jerkens plans on running at least some at Calder in December. "The purses may be a little bigger at Gulfstream, but you get 12-horse fields," Jerkens said. "At Calder, you're running against six or seven."
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