BY BROCK SHERIDAN

After a misadventurous trip last time when fourth in the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton La Troienne at Churchill Downs, Florida-bred Dorth Vader used clear sailing to launch a nearly five-length victory in the $475,000 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Friday. A homebred for John Ropes of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dorth Vader earned her first Grade 1 in defeating five other fillies and mares over a sloppy mile-and-an-eighth.

Dorth Vader earned a trip to the 2025 Breeders’ Cup with the victory as the Ogden Phipps offered a “Win and You’re In” automatic entry into the $2 million Longines Distaff (G1), this year to be run at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Nov.1. 

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in the Ogden Phipps, Dorth Vader was in no hurry from post one, sitting a close-up fourth on the rail heading into the clubhouse turn as Royal Delta (G3)-winner Dazzling Move went to the front. Dazzling Move stretched her lead to two lengths coming out of the turn as Randomized, winner of last year’s Ogden Phipps, raced in second, a half-length in front of Dorth Vader to her inside with Leslie’s Rose between those two in fourth.

Dazzling Move sprinted off to lead by three lengths ahead of Dorth Vader in second after a half mile in :46.40 as Randomized excused herself with Tarifa taking third. Dorth Vader began closing at the three-eighths pole and was nearly even with Dazzling Move at the top of the stretch. Dazzling Move held on to a short lead until the furlong maker when Dorth Vader established her dominance by drawing off to win in 1:49.10. Dazzling Move was second, a length-and-three-quarters ahead of even-money favorite Raging Sea in third. Tarifa, Randomized and Leslie’s Rose finished in that order.

 

“We all knew she would do this, we just didn’t know when,” Ropes said. “We thought we should have been there in the La Troienne.”

Trained by George Weaver, Dorth Vader paid $19.60 to win at odds of 8-1.

Ropes said he was confident going into the Ogden Phipps but felt Dorth Vader had it won in the second turn.

“I was thinking she was in a perfect position. I said [to trainer George Weaver], ‘we got this. She’s going to win.’ Because that’s when she does her best when she comes out of that turn and gets into the stretch. She gets very determined. And you saw it. She’s a great horse.”

The Ogden Phipps was the third start off an 11-month layoff for Dorth Vader, who returned to finish second in a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming at Gulfstream Park on March 28. Churchill Downs and the La Troienne was her next stop but she was bumped hard in the first turn then shut off when trying to advance on Randomized in deep stretch.

A winner of the Grade 2 Davona Dale presented by FanDuel TV at odds of 45-1 at Gulfstream Park in 2023, Dorth Vader was then fourth in that year’s Gulfstream Park Oaks presented by FanDuel TV (G2). She next finished fifth in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and second in the Acorn presented by Great Jones Distilling Co (G1) at Belmont Park, both won by Pretty Mischievous, before a fourth in the Test (G1) won by Idiomatic. 

Some bone brusing was discovered in her left front leg and she was given time away from the races before returning at Gulfstream in March.

She now has five wins in 15 starts and the $275,000 first-place check for winning the Ogden Phipps boosts her career bankroll to $893,218.

Dorth Vader is by Girvin out of stakes-placed Yonaguska mare Hardcore Candy. Ropes purchased Hardcore Candy through his Rose Grove Farms for $23,000 out of the 2014 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Fall Mixed Sale where she was consigned by Top Line Sales in foal to Wildcat Heir. She has five winners from eight staters with Dorth Vader her only stakes winner. She has a yearling full-sister, Revenge of the Sis; and a Florida-bred weanling full sister, both bred by Ropes.

Ropes said the $500,000 Personal Ensign (G1) to be run at Saratoga on Aug. 23 would be next with the Breeders’ Cup Distaff a target later. 

“We’re going to the Breeders’ Cup,” Ropes said. “As long as she stays healthy, we’ll be at the Breeders’ Cup.”

Dorth Vader is the first Florida-bred winner of the Ogden Phipps since Ginger Punch in 2008. Other Florida-bred winners were Take D’Tour (2006-’07), Beautiful Pleasure (2000), Sister Act (1999), Turnback the Alarm (1993), Raisela (1975) and Ta Wee (1970). Inaugurated in 1961 as the Hempstead Handicap, the race was run under that name until 2002.

Return to the June 6 issue of Wire to Wire