By Molly Rollins
John Ropes, a breeder and owner in the racing industry for 45 years, achieved his first grade 1 victory with homebred filly Dorth Vader in the Ogden Phipps Stakes. Ropes focuses on breeding and selling horses, with a passion for the babies and mares. He purchased Hardcore Candy, Dorth Vader’s dam, based on her stakes- placed record and believes in the importance of a mare’s heart size. Ropes plans to sell Dorth Vader’s full sister at auction and keep another weanling filly. Despite setbacks, Ropes kept faith in Dorth Vader and she rewarded him with a win in the Ogden Phipps, earning a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. George Weaver, Dorth Vader’s trainer, believes she is in the best shape of her career, and Ropes is proud of the journey he’s taken with his special homebred filly.