Among the top horses bred by the Jumonville family of Ventress, Louisiana, is top runner and sire Feature Mr Jess ($539,327), as well as champion and sire Jess Louisiana Blue ($170,682). Their horses have won more than $4 million on the track and also includes multiple Grade 1 winner A Stoli Mate ($431,263).

“We really liked him,” owner Robert Sanchez said. “We liked his bloodlines. Just like any purchase, it’s always a gamble. We invested I think $27,000 on him, and he’s improved every race.

“We always knew this horse and what he had the potential of doing,” Sanchez added. “He ran with Ochoa and some of the other big horses in the Rainbow Derby trial, and he was leading up to probably 350 yards, then he got tired. We knew coming in that he had something in him.”

Sanchez also said he wanted to thank trainer Juan Gonzalez and jockey Jaime Parga Leos for their work with the horse.

“(Juan) has been instrumental in getting this horse to another level,” Sanchez said. “He’s really improved him this year.”

The late Feature Mr Jess was a two-time Grade 1 winner with $539,327 in career earnings. The successful sire from eight crops has sired the earners of more than $19.3 million, including All American Futurity winner Heartswideopen.

The unraced Special Effort mare This Girl Is Special is a half sister to champion Jess Louisiana Blue (by Mr Jess Perry, $170,682) and six-figure earners Fed Ex Together (by Call Me Together, $111,784), Louisiana Eye Opener (by Mr Eye Opener, $151,254), Jessthelouisianagirl (by Mr Jess Perry, $122,904) and The Louisiana Cartel (by Corona Cartel, $127,941). Bred and owned by Jumonville Farms, from eight starters she has produced six winners, including full sibling and Grade 2 winner Thisfeatureisspecial ($76,582).