Oak Grove, KY – Four more standout 2-year-old trotters have punched their tickets to the eliminations for the 2027 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Oaks following major Grand Circuit and Kentucky Sire Stakes victories over the weekend.
In the colts and geldings division, Swan Good Bi maintained his flawless record on Friday (Sept. 18) with a track-record-equaling 1:53.2 victory in the $475,100 Grade 1 Peter Haughton Memorial at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Driven by Jordan Ross for trainer Henry Graber Jr., Swan Good Bi secured an automatic qualifying berth in the eliminations for the 2027 $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby. The gelding is owned by Indiana Stables, Frank Baldachino, Michael Rosenthal, and James Zito.
Joining him in the Derby eliminations is Whateverittakes AS, driven by Tony Hall, who captured the $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series final for 2-year-old male trotters on Sunday (Sept. 20) at the Red Mile. Anette Lorentzon trains Whateverittakes AS, a homebred Walner-Fortunes Dream colt, for owner ACL Stuteri AB.
In the filly division, Birr Castle earned her second automatic qualifying spot in the eliminations to the 2027 $300,000 Oak Grove Trotting Oaks by capturing the $483,350 Grade 1 Jim Doherty Memorial at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday. Driven by Scott Zeron for trainer Marcus Melander and owner Pheasant Hill Farm, Birr Castle now has career earnings of $476,356.
On Sunday, undefeated Wall Of Fame also punched her second ticket to the Oaks eliminations by winning the $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series final for 2-year-old trotting fillies at the Red Mile. Driven by Andy Miller, Wall Of Fame equaled her lifetime mark of 1:52 with a game victory to keep her career record unblemished. Wall Of Fame now has nine wins and career earnings of $561,250.
The “Road to…” series was established to reward top 2-year-old trotting performances and enrich Oak Grove’s premier events. A series of designated Grand Circuit and Sire Stakes races serve as automatic qualifying events to the Derby and Oaks eliminations.
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby (Colts and Geldings)
| Date | Automatic Qualifying Race | 2026 Race Winner |
| 8/8/2026 | New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship | Lifetime Dreamer |
| 8/29/2026 | William Wellwood | Ocean Storm |
| 9/7/2026 | Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship | Jimdougie Armitage |
| 9/12/2026 | Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) | Cool Julio |
| 9/12/2026 | New York Sire Stakes Championship | Uncle Rob |
| 9/18/2026 | Peter Haughton | Swan Good Bi |
| 9/20/2026 | Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series | Whateverittakes AS |
| 9/26/2026 | Mohawk Million | |
| 10/9/2026 | Indiana Sire Stakes Championship | |
| 10/9/2026 | Ontario Sire Stakes Championship (Gold) | |
| 10/23/2026 | Breeders Crown 2YO Trot | |
| 11/14/2026 | Valley Victory |
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks (Fillies)
| Date | Automatic Qualifying Race | 2026 Race Winner |
| 8/8/2026 | New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship | Wall of Fame |
| 8/29/2026 | Peaceful Way | Athena’s Girl |
| 9/7/2026 | Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship | Birr Castle |
| 9/12/2026 | Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) | Blue Ranger |
| 9/12/2026 | New York Sire Stakes Championship | Kountry Plunge |
| 9/18/2026 | Jim Doherty | Birr Castle |
| 9/20/2026 | Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series | Wall of Fame |
| 9/25/2026 | Kentuckiana Stallion Management | |
| 10/9/2026 | Indiana Sire Stakes Championship | |
| 10/9/2026 | Ontario Sire Stakes Championship (Gold) | |
| 10/23/2026 | Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot | |
| 11/14/2026 | Goldsmith Maid |