AC Heading South, ridden by Carlos Banda, posts the fastest qualifying time during the Rusty Wilson Memorial Futurity Trials on June 14 at Chippewa Downs.

© Chippewa Downs

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

BELCOURT, ND–JUNE 14, 2026–Three trials were contested on June 14 at Chippewa Downs to determine the finalists for the $12,000-added Rusty Wilson Memorial Futurity. The June 28 final is restricted to North Dakota-bred or North Dakota-owned 2-year-olds and will be contested at 300 yards.

Fastest qualifier AC Heading South earned the top spot with a determined victory in the opening trial. Under Carlos Banda, the gelding rallied from fourth early and dug in late to prevail by a nose while stopping the clock in :16.366 seconds.

Owned by Oakley Davis and trained by breeder Mark Allery, AC Heading South is a gelded son of Love The Way You Fly out of the Chicks Regard mare Dolla Daze. The victory was his first in four starts and pushed his record to 4-1-2-0 with earnings of $4,749.

Just a nose behind the top qualifier was R Polly Pistol, who earned the second-fastest qualifying time of :16.373 seconds. Ricardo Martinez was aboard for owner-trainer Chris Longie as the filly battled throughout before settling for second in a tightly contested finish.

Bred by Gary and Stefanie Roen, R Polly Pistol is by Vanila Viper and out of the Ima Ramblin On mare Fantastic Girl. The trial effort came in just her second career start.

The opening trial also produced the third-fastest qualifier, I Willbekickinupdust. Ridden by Aram Martinez, the filly broke sharply and showed the way early before being narrowly overtaken late, finishing only a neck behind R Polly Pistol and a quarter-length behind AC Heading South. Her time of :16.398 seconds secured the final spot among the top three qualifiers.

Owned and trained by Mark Allery and bred by John Bubel, I Willbekickinupdust is a daughter of Domishay out of the Gol mare Shez A Gol Mind. The trial marked her second career start.

The $12,000-added Rusty Wilson Memorial Futurity final is scheduled for June 28 at Chippewa Downs.

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