Leading first-crop sire Makin An Effort will stand the 2026 breeding season at Delta Equine Center in Vinton, Louisiana.

© Courtney Ellis

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA—NOVEMBER 8, 2025—First-crop stakes sire Makin An Effort, a son of legendary Triple Crown winner Special Effort, will stand the 2026 breeding season at Delta Equine Center in Vinton, Louisiana.

His fee has been set at $1,250, with considerations given to approved mares. GIA Equine Center, LLC owns the stallion.

Makin An Effort won or placed in nine of 20 starts and earned $25,675.

A stakes-winning sire in his first crop to race, Makin An Effort is already making his mark in the breeding shed. From only three starters, his early standouts include Especially Tempting, winner of the $54,045 Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity and third in the Ontario Bred Futurity, earning $24,257 as a two-year-old. Another emerging runner, Suit Up was a finalist in the $57,060 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity.

From only three starters, Makin An Effort is currently the #12 Leading First-Crop sire of Money Earners in 2025.

Especially Tempting, under jockey Cassandra Jeschke, winning the $54,045 Ontario Stakes Futurity at Ajax Downs September 5. © New Image Media / Clive Cohen

Makin An Effort is a son of Special Effort SI 104, one of the most celebrated stallions in American Quarter Horse history. The World Champion Racing Quarter Horse, Special Effort, captured the All American Futurity and earned $1,219,949 during his brilliant career.

As a sire, he produced 28 crops of racing age, including 1,052 ROM earners, with 75 stakes winners and 6 champions. His progeny collectively earned nearly $19 million, led by notable champions such as Easygo Effort SI 108 ($431,551), Special Project SI 108 ($429,302), Special Leader SI 103 ($292,605), Bully Bullion SI 104 ($225,384), and Sweet N Special SI 106 ($209,103).

His influence continues to shape the modern Quarter Horse breed through multiple generations of elite performers and proven sires.

Foaled in 2019, Makin An Effort is out of Thatsa Blazin Chick SI 102, a multiple stakes-winning and multiple Grade 1 finalist daughter of Chicks A Blazin. Thatsa Blazin Chick earned $133,011 on the track and captured the New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (G3), while also finishing in the money in prestigious events such as the Shue Fly S. (G2), Lou Wooten H. (G1), and Zia Futurity (G2).

She proved herself a prolific producer as well, with more than a dozen winners and several black type, including Buffalo Head SI 93 ($38,876), The Fire Fly SI 104 ($28,232), and Fires Blazin SI 88, who earned a remarkable $369,985 while finishing second in the Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1). Her descendants continue to produce black-type runners, such as Calida SI 104 ($44,142) and Ag Cyber King SI 90 (finalist in the West Texas Futurity-G2).

Makin An Effort’s second dam, Sure Thats Me SI 95, by Sure Casady, also compiled a noteworthy record, winning the New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (G3) and earning $40,531 before establishing herself as a cornerstone broodmare. This strong female family has consistently produced durable, graded-quality runners and is rich with proven performers across multiple generations of New Mexico-bred excellence.

Bred on the enduring Special Effort–Chicks A Blazin cross, Makin An Effort offers breeders access to a pedigree steeped in speed, stamina, and proven black-type production. With a solid early record as a young sire and the backing of one of Louisiana’s most respected breeding facilities, his 2026 season promises continued momentum.

For additional information or breeding contracts, contact Caleb Findley, Delta Equine Center Farm Manager, at 337-589-3078 or 337-304-4680.

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