Oak Grove, KY – Twenty-two automatic slot winners have now been finalized with impressive weekend performances by Grade 1 stakes-winners Diabolic Hill (in the Valley Victory) and All Time Trot S (Goldsmith Maid). The Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks have been established to reward exceptional 2-year-old trotting performances and to enrich the recently announced $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $300,000 Oak Grove Trotting Oaks.
From the 24 “win and you’re in” races, 22 unique winners have now been determined, and each will earn a fully paid, automatic spot in the corresponding elimination race for the 2026 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Oak Grove Trotting Oaks (with all pre-entry and starting fees covered by the race sponsors). The automatic qualifying races and the 2025 respective race winners are identified below. These impressive 2-year-old champions have collective earnings of over $8.5 million this racing season.
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby
| Oak Grove Trotting Derby Automatic Qualifying Races | 2025 Race Winner | 2025 Earnings |
| Breeders Crown 2YO Trot | Spencer Hanover | $649,889 |
| Mohawk Million | Apex | $871,798 |
| Peter Haughton | Apex | $871,798 |
| William Wellwood | Ardonne | $289,150 |
| Valley Victory | Diabolic Hill | $506,636 |
| Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series | Endurance | $557,450 |
| Indiana Sire Stakes Championship | Premier Bluebird | $182,455 |
| Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) | Big Ranger | $370,160 |
| Oak Grove Trotting Derby Automatic Qualifying Races (cont.) | 2025 Race Winner | 2025 Earnings |
| New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship | Apex | $871,798 |
| New York Sire Stakes Championship | AI | $395,073 |
| Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship | Dublin Hanover | $216,247 |
| Ontario Sire Stakes Championship (Gold) | Strobe Lite | $274,423 |
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks
| Oak Grove Trotting Oaks Automatic Qualifying Races | 2025 Race Winner | 2025 Earnings |
| Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot | Storybook Love | $497,921 |
| Jim Doherty | Atlantic Summer | $390,518 |
| Peaceful Way | Sugar Packet | $236,192 |
| Kentuckiana Stallion Management | Nezuko Kamado S | $549,064 |
| Goldsmith Maid | All Time Trot S | $278,202 |
| Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series | Country Glide | $269,925 |
| Indiana Sire Stakes Championship | For Dayze | $263,000 |
| Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) | Setyoursightshigh | $678,159 |
| New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship | Emmas Mystery CCL | $228,636 |
| New York Sire Stakes Championship | Sharp Seven | $400,900 |
| Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship | Ginger Tree Lex | $274,440 |
| Ontario Sire Stakes Championship (Gold) | Bingo Night | $307,162 |
*Any automatic slot winner that has won more than one qualifying race is limited to only one spot for the eliminations.
The elimination races, scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026, will have a purse of $50,000 for the Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $30,000 for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks. Both the elimination races and the championship finals will be limited to a maximum of nine, with all competitors starting on the gate.
The Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Oak Grove Trotting Oaks are open events for all eligible 3-year-olds that have met all stakes conditions, including payment of all fees. For the inaugural 2026 event, the pre-entry and starting fees for each race will be as follows:
| Race | March 15, 2026 Fee | April 15, 2026 Fee | Elimination Starting Fee | Total Fees |
| Oak Grove Trotting Derby | $500 | $500 | $1,500 | $2,500 US |
| Oak Grove Trotting Oaks | $500 | $500 | $500 | $1,500 US |
| *no starting fee for Finals |
Additional details, including final race conditions, staking details, wagering menus, hospitality offerings and charitable beneficiaries, will be announced in the coming months.