Dorth Vader makes timely move in stretch to win Ogden Phipps
Dorth Vader needed neither the force nor mind tricks Friday. She only needed a patient ride by Hall of Famer John Velázquez.
Keeping John Ropes’s Florida homebred just off the early speed, Velázquez made a strong move from the outside at the top of the stretch. That was where Dorth Vader overtook pacesetter Dazzling Move en route to a 4 3/4-length win in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes at rainy Saratoga.
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Dorth Vader (8-1) posted her first win in eight starts, but she made it count, returning to the winner’s circle for the first time in 26 months by taking the 57th edition of the Ogden Phipps for older fillies and mares contesting 1 1/8 miles. The 5-year-old Girvin dark bay secured a guaranteed spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Dazzling Move led the six-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.90 seconds over the sloppy and sealed main track with Velázquez keeping Dorth Vader in a competitive position in third. Dazzling Move, under jockey José Ortiz, continued to dictate terms with the half-mile in 46.41 seconds and three-quarters in 1:10.14 as Dorth Vader tracked from second.
That put Dorth Vader in a favorable position to take command in the homestretch, where she displayed a strong kick over the slop with Velázquez giving right-handed encouragement, completing the course with a time of 1:49.10 to give trainer George Weaver his first Ogden Phipps victory.
Dazzling Move (12-1) finished a comfortable 1 3/4 lengths clear of post-time favorite Raging Sea (1-1) for second with the two longest shots on the board completing the exacta. Tarifa (7-1) finished fourth followed by defending Ogden Phipps winner Randomized (5-2) with Leslie’s Rose (5-1) eased to the wire. Candied was scratched.
“I was expecting this kind of trip, really,” Velázquez said. “I thought probably a little more speed showed up. I mean they went fast enough anyways. My horse settled the way I wanted her to. When I showed (speed, Dazzling Move) kind of took off a little bit. I got a good position on the backstretch, and from then on I was very comfortable. She wanted to be forward. She handled it (the track) very well."
Weaver said an equipment change for her current campaign helped Dorth Vadar, who was transferred to him in 2023 after a fifth-place effort that year in the Kentucky Oaks (G1)
“I still wasn’t sure she wanted to go that far,” Weaver said. “When I first got her, I was like, man, this filly does not need blinkers. I thought that from the beginning. I never took them off until this year, and it’s paying dividends. She’s really getting into a nice, comfortable groove early in the race, and I think it’s helping her get the two turns. She’s a high-strung filly, but she’s like fine wine. She’s getting better with age.”
Dorth Vader returned $19.60 on a $2 win wager and improved her career earnings to $893,218. The effort marked the Florida-bred’s first win since the Davona Dale (G2) in March 2023 at Gulfstream Park.
Dorth Vader, the runner-up in the 2023 Acorn (G1) at Belmont Park, entered with competitive efforts, including a fourth in the La Troienne (G1) in May at Churchill Downs.
“We all hate it when it rains like this. It throws everything off,” Weaver said. “You just don’t know how they’re going to handle it, but she’s a sure-footed filly. Everybody’s got to deal with it, not just me. You hope for the best when you go out there.”
Weaver said he will take time to consider a next start for Dorth Vader. Saratoga options include the Shuvee (G2) on July 18 and the Personal Ensign (G1) on Aug. 23 offering a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
“We’ll look at the calendar, see how many spots we want to hit, see how the filly’s doing and map out a plan from here to get there (Breeders’ Cup),” Weaver said.