It's hard to turn down an opportunity to race for $500,000 without having to reach into your own pocket. The first Oak Grove Trotting Derby, an attempt to draw in the top sophomore colts and geldings in early May, came with caveats. While some had to nominate, others - due to their extreme prowess in 2025 - earned spots in the May 4 elimination races without an expense. Saturday's rich final will bring last year's Breeders Crown champion Spencer Hanover, along with last year's Kentucky Championship winner Endurance, as well as seven others in a contest that more than lives up to expectations, at least on paper. For trainer Chris Beaver, that invitation led him to have Endurance, a colt by Captain Corey that missed last year's Breeders Crown due to a bruised coffin bone, ready early enough - or so he hoped - for the May 4 elimination. "He trained down smoothly all winter," said Beaver, indicating that there were no issues with the coffin bone and a filled-out version of Endurance had come back on schedule. "When Andy (McCarthy) came down to qualify him we were shooting for around 1:54-1:55." McCarthy guided Endurance to a 1:53 4/5 mile on April 16 over the Spring Garden Ranch mile track, and the trainer figured that was enough of a prep and wouldn't require a second qualifier in advance of the Oak Grove Trotting Derby trials. "I really didn't know what to expect in that first race," said Beaver of the 1:51 3/5 and fastest of three $50,000 elimination races. "Andy said he didn't know what would happen when he pulled him, but once he did, he was all business." Endurance had sat patiently in third through a 56 second opening half-mile and then pulled as the pace picked up. Ohio sensation Big Ranger threw down a 27 second flat third quarter as McCarthy put Endurance in motion on the backstretch. Endurance had no issues with taking air or the accelerated pace and drove past the leader with ease, trotting a 28 1/5 final quarter and winning for the seventh time in nine career starts. That the mile time was the fastest of his career clearly projects an upward trend. For Beaver the race answered many questions, at least about rust, but certainly not about Endurance's ability. "We only made one change since last year and that's to an open bridle," said Beaver, who feels Endurance is a fighter and that it's best if he can see what he's up against. Endurance was defeated only twice as a freshman, once at Oak Grove in a Sire Stakes race with Andy McCarthy getting acquainted with the colt for the first time and then finishing second in the Mohawk Million behind division champion Apex. Looking back on the Mohawk Million, Beaver thought things could have worked out differently. "He got used pretty hard to get the lead," Beaver said. "And then I think he didn't see the other horse coming quickly enough." ► Get FREE Harness Eye Past Performances for the Saturday card at Oak Grove It was still a solid effort by Endurance regardless, as he followed up his Sire Stakes championship victory on September 14 at The Red Mile with the Million six days later and a decent ship north. Endurance appears to have the manners and speed that make for champions, and the Oak Grove Trotting Derby will certainly be a good first test with a solid field assembled but none that have raced as well over the five-eighths surface. "He's the track record holder here at 2 and 3," said Beaver proudly. "I think that race will definitely benefit him going forward." The Trotting Derby will be the final of 11 races carded at Oak Grove on Saturday afternoon and Endurance drew post six in the open draw and was made the second choice in the morning line behind Spencer Hanover (post one), a horse that won his elimination against a much softer division in a pedestrian 1:53 4/5 mile. "The draw was ok," said Beaver. "I'm concerned that (Marcus) Melander's two drew posts one and two." In addition to Breeders Crown champion Spencer Hanover, Melander also has Nix Nacken, who finished third behind Endurance in his elimination race. The trainer called Spencer Hanover's elimination mile a "nice experience" that he can build off while Nix Nacken was a late addition to the field. "We didn't plan to bring him to Oak Grove, but then he qualified very well at the Meadowlands and I just figured, 'give it a shot.' I think he'll move forward a lot with that race under his belt, because he only had that one qualifier," said Melander. Silverstein, third in last year's Mohawk Million, made his season's debut a winning one in the other Trotting Derby elimination race for trainer Matthew Burkholder. The gelded son of Chapter Seven loses driver David Miller, who sustained an injury in a racing accident at Scioto Downs, and Scott Zeron will guide him from post nine on Saturday. Burkholder also sends out Requiem (post five), a consistent colt that has finished on the board in 10 of his 11 career starts. "I think maybe they'll both be a little tighter, but they'll have to be," said Burkholder. AI (post three) was a solid second-place finisher behind Endurance in his trial, and that came after getting stuck behind a weakening pace-setter turning into the homestretch. The Ron Burke-trained colt was a star on the New York Sire Stakes circuit's smaller tracks, and that should give him the experience necessary to navigate this three-turn oval. Endurance will remain in Ohio until Thursday and then ship in to be ready for detention. "He's a very good shipper," said Beaver. "We came two days before the elimination, and we'll do the same for the final." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Beaver plucked Endurance for just $14,000, making him the least expensive of the colts that sold in the Trotting Derby field. "When you pay $14,000 you're hoping for something like this but more often than not you don't get it," said Beaver. "I've had a lot of nice horses but he's the best horse I've ever had." Many trainers bypassed the Oak Grove Trotting Derby due to its proximity on the schedule and the concern that it may be difficult to have a horse sharp in May and then again be at their best for the Hambletonian on August 8. "You won't be seeing much of him for a while after this race," said Beaver. "I don't want him to have too many starts." Endurance will likely not return until the Currier & Ives on June 26 at The Meadows and then on to the Del Miller Memorial at the Meadowlands on July 11, the final preliminary race prior to the Hambletonian eliminations on August 1. Already with $582,450 banked predominantly from an outstanding 2-year-old season, Endurance has the look and pedigree that could help achieve greatness this year. He's from the first crop of 2021 Hambletonian winner Captain Corey and out of the dam Love Session, who happens to be a half-sister to three horses that earned more than $700K. One of the three was the $796K winner Triumphant Caviar, a horse that finished second to Muscle Hill in the 2009 Hambletonian eliminations but couldn't get near him in the record-setting 1:50 1/5 final a week later. Beaver trained Triumphant Caviar and 17 years later may have a horse that has the stamina for the sport's biggest prize.