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.