Carlos Banda guides AC Heading South to a neck victory over Hasta Be Famous One in the $19,500 NDQHRA Northern Plains Futurity on July 25 at North Dakota Horse Park.

© North Dakota Horse Park

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

FARGO, ND—JULY 25, 2026—AC Heading South broke sharply from post four and never relinquished the lead, holding off a determined late bid from Hasta Be Famous One to win the $19,500 NDQHRA Northern Plains Futurity for 2-year-olds at North Dakota Horse Park on Saturday.

The bay gelding covered 350 yards in :18.409 over a fast track, earning a speed index of 82.

Ridden by Carlos Banda, AC Heading South is owned by Oakley Davis and trained by breeder Mark Allery. The gelding is sired by Love The Way You Fly and out of the Chicks Regard mare Dolla Daze.

Marking his second stakes victory of the season, he improved his record to 7-3-3-0. The $8,775 winner's share of the purse boosted his earnings to $23,809. Earlier this year, he captured the Rusty Wilson Memorial Futurity at Chippewa Downs.

Favorite Hasta Be Famous One closed strongly after breaking from post two and raced gamely despite drifting inward late, finishing a neck behind the winner in :18.451 while earning a speed index of 81.

Scott Bethke rode the Kenneth Olson trainee for owner and breeder Susan Olson. The gelding, by Famous Painted One out of Hasta Be Fate, now sports a record of 5-2-2-0 with earnings of $11,050.

Mighty Minjun rallied from mid-pack with a late inside run to finish third, another three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.

The Domishay gelding stopped the clock in :18.585. Ridden by Dallin Herman for owners Chance and Hannah Wilson and trainer Mark Allery, the Jeffrey Wilson-bred gelding now has a record of 5-0-1-1 and earnings of $6,095.

Bodacious Fast Prize, My Fancy Valentine, Slew To Be Famous and Lightning Quick completed the order of finish. Diamonds For Jess was scratched.

*Photo will be posted when it becomes available.

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