On the finish of 2024 when proprietor John Ropes weighed retiring his homebred filly Dorth Vader towards bringing her again to race at 5 this season, his checkmarks within the pro-racing column included three achievements he’d like to see her accomplish.
In speaking issues over with coach George Weaver and adviser Marette Farrell, they wished Dorth Vader to win a grade 1 race. On June 6 Dorth Vader drew off within the Saratoga Race Course stretch to seize the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths.
They wished the daughter of Girvin to earn greater than $1 million on the observe. In her earlier begin Dorth Vader pushed reigning Horse of the 12 months Thorpedo Anna to the restrict earlier than settling for a nostril second within the Private Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 23 at Saratoga. The trouble earned Dorth Vader $100,000, pushing her profession earnings previous the seven-figure mark.
The third objective was to make the Breeders’ Cup. Dorth Vader is entered within the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar and Ropes is having fun with each second of his first journey to the World Championships.
“Properly I am pretty new at this,” Ropes defined because the solar warmed the Del Mar backstretch the morning of Oct. 29, earlier than including with fun, “I’ve solely been in it 45 years.”Join BloodHorse Every day
Ropes is thrilled with the choice to deliver Dorth Vader again this 12 months after she raced solely as soon as in 2024. As a 2-year-old she gained some stakes for Florida-breds after which at 3 burst on the scene with an upset victory within the 2023 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. That victory earned her a visit to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) the place she defeated 9 runners to to complete fifth. In her subsequent begin she earned a grade 1 putting when second within the Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, ending only a head behind eventual champion 3-year-old filly Fairly Mischievous .
This 12 months she’s met each objective her connections have positioned earlier than her and enters the 1 1/8-mile Distaff as one of many prime contenders at 5-1. She’ll begin from publish 12.
“She’s rewarded us. We took the time, and he or she got here again as robust as she’s ever been; stronger than she’s ever been. So we’re actually glad,” Ropes stated. “Not each resolution you are going to make on this recreation goes to be proper, however this one was good for her.”
In some ways in which places the Distaff final result within the “icing on the cake” class.
Photograph: Skip DicksteinBreeders’ Cup Distaff entrant Dorth Vader at Del Mar
“She’s gotten higher with each race; she’s enhancing. She’s good,” Ropes stated. “We’re very longing for this race developing. We expect she’s one of many actual class horses within the race. We expect she’ll do effectively.”
This would be the pinnacle for Dorth Vader, who’s entered in Fasig-Tipton’s The November Sale Nov. 3 in Lexington, the place she’ll be consigned by Vinery Gross sales, agent. Ropes plans to be there for the public sale however first he is savoring this remaining race. Weaver famous that in racing at 5, Dorth Vader has blossomed.
“She’s been a star of our steady,” Weaver stated. “She could be very athletic and all the time has been. She covers floor simply—a really ahead filly. She has matured over time. Early on, she was just a little edgy and will get nervous about issues. She’s actually settled into a pleasant groove now as she’s gotten older, and it is proven in her races. She has been in a position to present how a lot she will run.”
It is fairly an accomplishment for Ropes, who breeds a few dozen mares a 12 months and sells a few of these younger horses and races others. He retains most of his mares in Kentucky however some at his Rosegrove Farm close to Ocala, Fla. Ropes’ Yonaguska mare, Hardcore Sweet, foaled Dorth Vader at Rosegrove Farm.
Days away from the Distaff, Ropes recalled that preliminary breeding resolution.
“I went over to Ocala Stud and (proprietor) David O’Farrell stated, ‘I feel you actually ought to take a look at this horse. We simply obtained him from the observe. Check out him.’ He introduced out Girvin, and he did not appear to be a stallion but as a result of he was simply off the observe,” Ropes stated. “I stated he actually did not appear to be a lot. However David stated, ‘I feel that is going to be a very nice horse.’ So I stated, ‘OK, we’ll breed Hardcore to Girvin.’ And it was a really lucky factor that we did, clearly.”
The luck—like most within the horse business, tied to exhausting work and perception—flowed that 12 months as Hardcore Sweet had been affected by some life-threatening foot points. At one level, the hardest of choices had been made: If issues did not enhance inside every week, she must be euthanized. Ropes credited some standout farrier work with turning her round, paving the way in which for the profitable breeding to Girvin.
That might lead Ropes to his dream horse, and whereas will probably be tough parting together with her, he’s loads conversant in making offers in racing in addition to in enterprise. He is labored in 22 totally different international locations in actual property consulting. For Ropes, promoting a prime horse just isn’t designed to make cash a lot as to maintain him within the recreation he loves.
“This isn’t enterprise when you’re in it solely to make cash,” Ropes stated. “This can be a enterprise the place it’s a must to love the horse. You need to adore it. And we do.”
Dorth Vader has rewarded that love by offering Ropes a few of the most unique racing experiences within the sport.
“Hear, that is what it is all about, with the ability to come to the Breeders’ Cup. We have been within the Kentucky Oaks with Dorth and that was an exhilarating occasion. Whenever you suppose you are considered one of 14 fillies out of the complete foal crop. That is fairly cool.
“After we have been saddling for the Acorn, which we misplaced to Fairly Mischievous by a nostril, there was a developer with me. We have been within the saddling space, and he checked out me, and he stated, ‘OK, when you may promote a constructing for $15 million-$20 million revenue, or you would be right here proper now doing this, which might you slightly do?’
“I informed him that is a silly query. I might a lot slightly be right here.”
This week John Ropes once more is true the place he needs to be.
