Veteran Joey P. is recovering from surgery for a twisted intestine and will be sidelined for at least two months, trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said.

The seven-year-old Close Up gelding was slated to contest the Charles Town Dash Invitational Handicap, which he won last year, on Saturday at Charles Town Races but the plans changed quickly on Thursday when he was found in distress in his stall.

Joey P. was transferred to Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Ringoes, New Jersey, where Patricia S. Doyle, D.V.M., performed surgery to repair the intestine.

“Everybody in the barn was excited about the race and looking forward to it,” Perkins said. “Joey was fine through the morning, everything normal. Then in the afternoon, the groom noticed he was uncomfortable in his stall. We called the vet, and then he got worse so fast it was frightening.

“They had to make an incision, but fortunately they were able to untwist the intestine manually, and they didn’t have to resect it. Dr. Doyle said it will take a couple of months for the incision to heal, and then he can go back into training.

“The change in him after the surgery was amazing,” Perkins added. “By 11 o’clock that night, he was looking for his supper.”

Joey P., winner of the 2005 Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3), has amassed 12 stakes victories and $973,472 in six seasons.