Dorth Vader Springs the Upset in Ogden Phipps

It's a moment owner/breeder John Ropes has been waiting for the last 45 years—to win a grade 1. He accomplished his goal June 6 at Saratoga Race Course with homebred Dorth Vader who rolled to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $485,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) under John Velazquez. "It is very sweet," Ropes said. "All of my horses are homebreds. I won't buy a horse to race." Ropes named the 5-year-old Florida-bred, a daughter of Girvin, after his significant other, Dorothy Harden, a fan of Star Wars. Despite the horrendous weather conditions at Saratoga, Harden didn't let the drenching rain dampen her enthusiasm for the victory as she excitedly threw in a couple of jumps in the winner's circle, flashing a wide smile. Ropes, the owner of Rosegrove Farm near Ocala, Fla., where Dorth Vader was foaled, was a bit more restrained in his excitement, but his delight was nonetheless apparent. He said Dorth Vader's race prior to the 1 1/8-mile Ogden Phipps, the May 2 La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs, indicated to him she was ready to fire big today. The George Weaver trainee finished a solid fourth in the La Troienne, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by winner Raging Sea, after encountering traffic problems around the first turn. Raging Sea, the Ogden Phipps even-money favorite, finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind runner-up Dazzling Move who carved out fractions of :22.90, :46.41, and 1:10.14 as the pacesetter over the sloppy (sealed) track. Completing the order of finish was Tarifa, Randomized, and Leslie's Rose who was eased in the stretch but walked off the track on her own power. "(Dorth Vader) was getting ready to roll and we got cut off and that was the problem," Ropes said of the La Troienne. "We knew we could win (the Ogden Phipps). George (Weaver) thought she is in the best shape she has ever been in. This was her time. Plus, we had to have the jockey to pull it off. I can't think of anyone better than Johnny (Velazquez) and his patience and ability to read the track." Velazquez sat in second, several lengths off Dazzling Move, until he roused his mount at the top of the stretch. Dorth Vader began gobbling up ground and collared the pacesetter with a furlong remaining. The winner's final time was 1:49.10 and she returned $19.60 for a $2 win bet. The mare now has earnings of $893,218 and a record of 5-2-1 in 15 starts. Dorth Vader earned a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1 as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. Ropes has never been represented by a starter at the World Championships. It was the first win in the Ogden Phipps for Weaver, who began training Dorth Vader midway through her 2023 campaign. "We all hate it when it rains like this. It throws everything off," he said. "You just don't know how they're going to handle it. But, she's a sure-footed filly. Everybody's got to deal with it, not just me. You hope for the best when you go out there. "I still wasn't sure she wanted to go that far. When I first got her, I was like, 'Man, this filly does not need blinkers.' I thought that from the beginning. I never took them off until this year, and it's paying dividends. She's really getting into a nice, comfortable groove early in the race and I think it's helping her get the two turns. She's a high-strung filly, but she's like fine wine. She's getting better with age." Dorth Vader is out of the 19-year-old Hardcore Candy, a daughter of Yonaguska. Ropes said he will offer Dorth Vader's full sister at this year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. When Hardcore Candy was bred to Girvin, the sire was standing in Florida at Ocala Stud. The grade 1-winning son of Tale of Ekati relocated to Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., for the 2023 breeding season. His stud fee this year is $25,000.