Don Alberto goes back to well with seven-figure broodmare

In September 2015, Liliana Solari and Carlos Heller’s Don Alberto Corp. went to $400,000 to purchase a filly by two-time reigning leading sire and commercial juggernaut Tapit out of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic winner Unrivaled Belle. That price looked like a relative bargain as the filly, named Unique Bella, began showing promise in training.

Therefore, Don Alberto set out to acquire more of the family. The operation was the immediate underbidder on Unrivaled Belle as she sold for $3.8 million to Mandy Pope to lead the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. A few weeks later, Unique Bella carried Don Alberto’s colors to a 10 1/4-length maiden win, followed by a 7 1/2-length romp in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez this month – and the family’s value has skyrocketed.

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Don Alberto finally added another horse with similar bloodlines when it purchased the broodmare Siren Serenade for $1.025 million to lead the Keeneland January mixed sale. The Unbridled’s Song mare sold in foal to Tapit, meaning the foal she is carrying is bred on the same cross as Unique Bella.

“They already own part of that family, and are having good foals, so it was just a no-brainer for them,” said Reiley McDonald, who signed the ticket as agent. “There was nothing like her at the sale, and Don Alberto’s playing at the highest end of the game. She was the perfect mare for them.”

Meanwhile, Unrivaled Belle is due to deliver a full sibling to Unique Bella this spring in Kentucky, and will again be bred back to Tapit, Pope has said.