“She looked so much like [Heston Blue Chip] and since I had so much success with him, I figured I’d take a shot.”

After having reached the sport’s highest level in 2012 with champion three-year-old pacer Heston Blue Chip, owner Ken Jacobs is looking to strike again, this time with Gweneeee J, a three-year-old full-sister to his earner of more than $1.7 million.

Out of the mare Shot Togo Bluechip, Gweneeee J is scheduled to make her first career start Friday night (April 3) in Race 3 at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Jacobs purchased Gweneeee J for $145,000 at the 2013 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She was the most expensive yearling at the sale by the top stallion American Ideal.

“She was a very good looking yearling,” said Jacobs, a native of central New York. “She looked so much like ‘Heston,’ and since I had so much success with him, I figured I’d take a shot.”

Jacobs says Gweneeee J did not race as a two-year-old because “she wasn’t up to it” and he didn’t want to push her too hard. Instead, she was turned out and prepared for her three-year-old season.

“We already know she’ll make a very good broodmare, but we’ll find out a little more on Friday if she’ll be a good racehorse,” Jacobs explained. “You never know until you put them on the track to race, but we just want to take it cautiously and see what happens.”

Jacobs is a longtime owner and breeder who is best known as the owner of top horses Kenneth J, Heston Blue Chip, and Hes Gorgeous. He also likes to name many of his horses after family members and friends.

“I named this one after my grandson’s girlfriend and added the ‘E’s at the end because I thought it would be fun for the track announcers to yell ‘Gweneeee’ down the stretch,” said Jacobs. “I’ve run out of kids and grandkids to name horses after, so I’ve moved on to the girlfriends of my grandkids.”

Gweneeee J won a qualifier at the Meadowlands last Friday in a sharp 1:54.3. She’s trained by Linda Toscano and will be driven in Friday’s race by Hall of Famer John Campbell.

Friday’s 12-race program includes a carryover of $64,065 in the Jackpot Super High 5 in the fifth race. First-race post time is 7:15 p.m.

(With files from the Meadowlands)