By Jill Williams
A homebred for Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso, Unrivaled Belle's Breeders' Cup win came at the expense of the following year's Horse of the Year Havre de Grace, who finished third. The two mares would eventually share common ownership, both being purchased by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, and live together at Timber Town before Havre de Grace's passing earlier this year.
The crown jewel among Unrivaled Belle's foals to date is two-time champion Unique Bella. Unrivaled Belle has a 2-year-old full-sister to Unique Bella named Tap My Belle, as well as yearling and weanling colts by Into Mischief. She was bred to Flightline for next term.
“Our time with Unrivaled Belle was amazing and super fun,” said Vegso, best known outside of racing as publisher of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. “She was a wonderful horse and loved racing. Bill Mott did a super job with her; he's a special soul as is 'the Belle.' It's always so special when a horse we foal does so super well; makes having a farm and mares and mating–and the Mother Nature surrounding that comes with it–magical.”
Unrivaled Belle (2006 gray or roan mare, Unbridled's Song–Queenie Belle, by Bertrando)
Lifetime record: GISW, 14-6-6-1, $1,854,706
Breeders' Cup connections: B/O-Gary Seidler & Peter Vegso (KY); T-Bill Mott; J-Kent Desormeaux.
Current location: Timber Town Stable, Lexington, Ky.
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