2025 Eclipse Awards: Don Alberto Corp.

Don Alberto Corp., which already had a good deal of success at its base in Chile, purchased its U.S. farm in 2013. In less than a dozen years, the international outfit, headed by principals Liliana Solari and her son Carlos Heller, has done what a number of solely U.S.-based operations have sought to do for generations. The farm bred its first American classic winner in 2023 and in 2025 struck with its second, Eclipse Award finalist Journalism.

Don Alberto bred and sold Arcangelo as a yearling. Arcangelo won the 2023 Belmont and Travers stakes to earn an Eclipse Award as the outstanding 3-year-old male that season.

In August 2023, Don Alberto offered, via the Denali Stud consignment, a Curlin colt out of the Grade 2-winning Uncle Mo mare Mopotism at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale. The colt brought $825,000 from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Journalism now races for Eclipse, with Don Alberto coming back in for a piece, in partnership with Bridlewood Farm, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, and the Coolmore group.

:: Full list of 2025 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Journalism won four graded stakes in 2025, highlighted by his classic victory in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, in which he overcame a rough stretch run. He had additional Grade 1 wins in the Santa Anita Derby and NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes and was second in both the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. Don Alberto bred another 2025 Grade 1 winner with Clicquot, who took down the Cotillion Stakes at Parx.

Don Alberto put its roots in Kentucky by purchasing Dr. Tom Simon’s Vinery in October 2013. Later, the farm expanded to the adjacent Hill ‘n’ Dale property, when John Sikura moved his operations to Xalapa Farm.

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