Homebred Dorth Vader Keeps Owner/Breeder Ropes Dreaming

At the end of 2024 when owner John Ropes weighed retiring his homebred filly Dorth Vader against bringing her back to race at 5 this season, his checkmarks in the pro-racing column included three achievements he'd love to see her accomplish. In talking things over with trainer George Weaver and adviser Marette Farrell, they wanted Dorth Vader to win a grade 1 race. On June 6 Dorth Vader drew off in the Saratoga Race Course stretch to capture the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths. They wanted the daughter of Girvin to earn more than $1 million on the track. In her previous start Dorth Vader pushed reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna to the limit before settling for a nose second in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 23 at Saratoga. The effort earned Dorth Vader $100,000, pushing her career earnings past the seven-figure mark. The third goal was to make the Breeders' Cup. Dorth Vader is entered in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar and Ropes is enjoying every moment of his first trip to the World Championships. "Well I'm fairly new at this," Ropes explained as the sun warmed the Del Mar backstretch the morning of Oct. 29, before adding with a laugh, "I've only been in it 45 years." Ropes is thrilled with the decision to bring Dorth Vader back this year after she raced only once in 2024. As a 2-year-old she won some stakes for Florida-breds and then at 3 burst on the scene with an upset victory in the 2023 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. That victory earned her a trip to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) where she defeated nine runners to to finish fifth. In her next start she earned a grade 1 placing when second in the Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, finishing just a head behind eventual champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous. This year she's met every goal her connections have placed before her and enters the 1 1/8-mile Distaff as one of the top contenders at 5-1. She'll start from post 12. "She's rewarded us. We took the time, and she came back as strong as she's ever been; stronger than she's ever been. So we're really happy," Ropes said. "Not every decision you're going to make in this game is going to be right, but this one was perfect for her." In some ways that puts the Distaff outcome in the "icing on the cake" category. "She's gotten better with every race; she's improving. She's good," Ropes said. "We're very hopeful for this race coming up. We think she's one of the real class horses in the race. We think she'll do well." This will be the pinnacle for Dorth Vader, who is entered in Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale Nov. 3 in Lexington, where she'll be consigned by Vinery Sales, agent. Ropes plans to be there for the auction but first he's savoring this final race. Weaver noted that in racing at 5, Dorth Vader has blossomed. "She's been a star of our stable," Weaver said. "She is very athletic and always has been. She covers ground easily—a very forward filly. She has matured over time. Early on, she was a little edgy and could get nervous about things. She's really settled into a nice groove now as she's gotten older, and it's shown in her races. She has been able to show how much she can run." It's quite an accomplishment for Ropes, who breeds about a dozen mares a year and sells some of those young horses and races others. He keeps most of his mares in Kentucky but some at his Rosegrove Farm near Ocala, Fla. Ropes' Yonaguska mare, Hardcore Candy, foaled Dorth Vader at Rosegrove Farm. Days away from the Distaff, Ropes recalled that initial breeding decision. "I went over to Ocala Stud and (owner) David O'Farrell said, 'I think you really ought to look at this horse. We just got him from the track. Take a look at him.' He brought out Girvin, and he didn't look like a stallion yet because he was just off the track," Ropes said. "I said he really didn't look like much. But David said, 'I think this is going to be a really nice horse.' So I said, 'OK, we'll breed Hardcore to Girvin.' And it was a very fortunate thing that we did, obviously." The luck—like most in the horse industry, tied to hard work and belief—flowed that year as Hardcore Candy had been suffering from some life-threatening foot issues. At one point, the toughest of decisions had been made: If things didn't improve within a week, she would have to be euthanized. Ropes credited some standout farrier work with turning her around, paving the way for the successful breeding to Girvin. That would lead Ropes to his dream horse, and while it will be difficult parting with her, he is plenty familiar with making deals in racing as well as in business. He's worked in 22 different countries in real estate consulting. For Ropes, selling a top horse is not designed to make money so much as to keep him in the game he loves. "This is not a good business if you're in it solely to make money," Ropes said. "This is a business where you have to love the horse. You have to love it. And we do." Dorth Vader has rewarded that love by providing Ropes some of the most exclusive racing experiences in the sport. "Listen, this is what it's all about, being able to come to the Breeders' Cup. We were in the Kentucky Oaks with Dorth and that was a thrilling event. When you think you're one of 14 fillies out of the entire foal crop. That's pretty cool. "When we were saddling for the Acorn, which we lost to Pretty Mischievous by a nose, there was a developer with me. We were in the saddling area, and he looked at me, and he said, 'OK, if you could sell a building for $15 million-$20 million profit, or you could be here right now doing this, which would you rather do?' "I told him that's a stupid question. I'd much rather be here." This week John Ropes again is right where he wants to be.