Unrivaled Belle highlighted the early part of Tuesday at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, with the 5-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song selling to Betty Moran’s Brushwood Stables for $2.8 million. The figure was the fourth highest of any horse and also the top price paid for an offspring of Unbridled’s Song at the sale thus far.



Over her career, the gray or roan 4-year-old filly is an excellent 6-6-1 in 14 lifetime starts, earning $1,854,706. Owners Peter Vegso and Gary Seidler purchased Unrivaled Belle at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale for $260,000. She is out of Queenie Belle, winner of the Grade 2 Lady’s Secret Handicap.



“I’m just an emotional wreck for some reason or another,” said Vegso, wiping away tears after the auctioneer dropped the hammer. “We’ve had so much enjoyment and she’s such a unique horse. I don’t know what it is. I’ve been crying for 15 minutes and I can’t get myself to stop. I should be joyous. It’s a great price and I know she’s going to be in good hands. Obviously, anybody who pays that for her is going to take good care of her. But she just brought a lot of joy to our lives. I’m missing her already.”



Reiley McDonald serves as an advisor to Moran. “We sent her pictures and we sent her videos (of Unrivaled Belle,) so she got a really good look at the mare,” McDonald said. “I was pleased for Mr. Vegso and his partner, Mr. Seidler, and I was pleased for Betty. It was good trade.



“When you get that kind of money for any horse, it’s a good sale. At the same time, she was arguably the best mare in the country last year and she was absolutely a picture. I thought she was well-valued on this market and hopefully she’ll produce babies that look like her.”