VENTRESS, LA—DECEMBER 23, 2019—Champion and leading sire Jess Louisiana Blue died of natural causes on Saturday (Dec. 21). He was 21-years-old. Bred-owned and raced by J.E. III, D.C. and C.T. Jumonville, he was a son of #3 all-time leading sire of money earners Mr Jess Perry from the multiple stakes producing Louisiana Slew (TB) mare The Louisiana Girl. He stood his entire career at Jumonville Farms in Ventress, Louisiana.

"Feature Mr Jess and Jess Louisiana Blue have been the heart and soul of Jumonville Farms for more than 19 years," J.E. Jumonville said. "After Feature Mr Jess' death, Blue filled his shoes. We are now at a total loss, of exactly how to move forward. We've been blessed to stand Blue and rather than focusing on the loss, we are going to focus on the blessings. Thank you Lord for giving him to us."

Jess Louisiana Blue won or placed in 12 races earned $170,682. He won the East Championship Challenge(G2), was second in the AQHA Challenge Championship(G1), and third in the Louisiana Champions Day QH Classic S.(G2), First Down Dash H.(G3), and Mr. Jess Perry Louisiana Downs Stakes.

Named the AQHA Racing Champion Aged Stallion in 2002, he was also a finalist in the Remington Park Derby(G1), Heritage Place Derby(G1), Louisiana Champions Day Derby(G2), Louisiana Champions Day Classic S.(G2), Sam Houston Classic H.(G2), Mardi Gras Derby(G3), Z Wayne Griffin Director's Stks-1st Div(G3), Sunland Park Fall Futurity, Pomona Championship, and Refrigerator H.(G1).

Through December 17th, he has sired 390 winners(61%), 96 black type (15%), earnings of $19.1 million and average earnings per starter of nearly $30,000. From 16 crops to reach racing age Jess Louisiana Blue was 27th All-Time Leading Sire of Money Earners.

Jess Louisiana Blue's top performers include Jessa Louisiana Zoom SI 99 (6 wins to 3, $637,591 Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1, etc.), Louisiana Senator SI 111 (8 wins to 5, $599,408 Remington Park Inv. Championship-G1, Leo S.-G1, Refrigerator H.-G1, etc.), Jess A Saint SI 103 (6 wins to 4, $537,302 Louisiana QHBA Futurity-RG1, etc.), Blue Louisiana Jolla SI 107 (10 wins to 10, $416,359 Louisiana Champions Day Classic-RG2, etc.), Louisiana Jewels SI 95 (3 wins to 3, $312,725 Louisiana Bred Lassie Futurity-RG2, etc.), Jess A Runner SI 120 (9 wins to 9, $298,831 Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge-G2, etc.), Political Option SI 109 (5 wins to 5, $286,180 Mr. Jess Perry Louisiana Downs S.-RG3, etc.), Bradys March Madness SI 110 (4 wins to 5, $278,776 Louisiana Bred Laddie Futurity-RG2, etc.), Three Olives N Smoke SI 107 (9 wins to 6, $265,801 Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge S.-G2, etc.), Dasha Blue SI 99 (winner to 3, $243,800 2nd-LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity-RG1, etc.), Sandra Sue Blue SI 101 (3 wins to 4, $229,355 Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2etc.), Tdz Louisiana Toast SI 110 (7 wins to 3, $207,159 Mardi Gras Derby [R], etc.).

His sire champion Mr Jess Perry ($687,184, Texas Classic Futurity-G1, etc.) is a leading sire, broodmare sire and a "sire of sires". From 21 crops to race, he has sired 150 stakes winners, 9 champions, 923 winners and earning $56,761,433 USA. This top performers include Matabari SI 104 (champion, $1,410,471, Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1, etc.), Apollitical Jess SI 107 (World Champion Racing American QH, $1,399,831, Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1-ntr, 400 yards in 0:19.133, etc.), One Famous Eagle SI 101 (champion, $1,387,453, Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1, etc.), Noconi SI 105 (champion 3 times, $1,356,459, All American Derby-G1, etc.), etc.

Jess Louisiana Blue's dam, the Grade 2-placed Louisiana Slew (TB) mare The Louisiana Girl SI 100 ($30,569), is the dam of 12 ROM, 11 winners, 7 black type including, 1 champion including Jess Louisiana Blue SI 109 (champion, see above), Grade 2 winner Louisiana Eye Opener SI 97 ($151,254), multiple grade 2 winner and champion sire The Louisiana Cartel SI 109 ($127,941), Grade 2 winner Jessthelouisianagirl SI 98 ($122,904), Grade 3 winner Fed Ex Together SI 105 ($112,864), multiple stakes winner Call Me Fed Ex SI 107 ($80,437) and Grade 1-placed Jess Got Bayou SI 101 ($46,496), etc.

The Louisiana Girl is also the granddam or great-granddam of black type runners Heza Louisiana Dash SI 105 ($531,041), Dutcher SI 109 ($193,833), Thisfeatureisspecial SI 98 ($190,758), Eye Am Sizzlin SI 108 ($172,588), Eye On Corona SI 94 ($133,718) ,Eyein The Feature SI 99 ($125,913), Sizzlin On Da Bayou SI 102 ($110,955), etc.

Jess Louisiana Blue's second dam is the two-time AQHA Racing Champion mare Little Blue Sheep SI 105 ($389,355), by St. Bar, a sister to Miss Angel Eyes SI 92 ($109,101, Kansas Futurity, etc.) and Takeme Freely SI 96 ($68,939, Debutante H.), etc. Little Blue Sheep won 25 races, to 6, including the Vessels Maturity, Go Man Go H., Las Damas H., Peninsula Championship, West Texas Derby, Inaugural H., HQHRA Inaugural H., Clabbertown G H., etc. She was also a finalist in the 1974 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

"For almost 22 years I’ve walked by his stall and told him good morning I will really miss him," Jumonville Farms manager Dutch Jumonville said.

Jess Louisiana Blue was buried at Jumonville Farms where he stood his entire career. Frozen semen will be available for 2020 and the farm will announce the fee at a later date.