Dorth Vader pulls off surprise Ogden Phipps win

Heavy afternoon rain on Friday turned Saratoga's main track into a sea of slop, which aided the two longest shots in the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) for fillies and mares.

Although limited to just five starts over the past two years, Dorth Vader turned in a career best effort in the nine-furlong Ogden Phipps. Getting past long-time leader Dazzling Move approaching the eighth pole, Dorth Vader drew off to a comfortable 4 3/4-length tally under John Velazquez.

The Phipps was the first two-turn win for Dorth Vader, who as a three-year-old in 2023 won the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream over a one-turn mile, and later got within a neck of champion Pretty Mischievous in the Acorn (G1) at Belmont, also around one turn.

"I still wasn't sure she wanted to go that far," said George Weaver, who trains the five-year-old mare for owner-breeder John Ropes. "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 covered one lap of Saratoga in 1:49.10 and paid $19.60.

Dazzling Move, the 12-1 longest shot in the field of six, outsprinted her rivals to the lead and held second by 1 3/4 lengths over 11-10 favorite Raging Sea, who had fallen as much as 14 lengths off the lead. Tarifa and 2024 Ogden Phipps heroine Randomized were the last ones across the wire, while Leslie's Rose was eased late when hopelessly beaten.

By virtue of her win in the Ogden Phipps, Dorth Vader earned an automatic bid to the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar in November.

"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," Weaver said.

A daughter of Girvin, Dorth Vader has won five of 15 career starts.