Race: Race 3 – Rusty Wilson Memorial Futurity
Distance: 5 Furlongs (Dirt)
Class: Futurity – 2‑Year‑Olds
Purse: $20,000
Scheduled Post Time: 2:12 PM CT
Expected Weather Conditions – Belcourt, ND
- Temperature: 78–82°F
- Sky: Mostly sunny
- Humidity: Low to moderate
- Wind: 8–12 mph from the west
- Track Condition: Fast
- Impact:
- Chippewa’s dirt surface plays fair, but early speed is often dangerous
- Light winds should not significantly affect front‑runners
- Juveniles with gate speed have a major advantage at 5 furlongs
Field Analysis – 2026 Rusty Wilson Memorial Futurity
Below is a horse‑by‑horse breakdown including post position, jockey, trainer, recent finishes, running style, track‑condition notes, and morning‑line odds.
Post 1 – Dakota Dynamo
Jockey: Jose Figueroa Trainer: Robert Butts Morning Line Odds: 5‑2 Recent Finishes: 1st (Trial Heat, Chippewa), 2nd (MSW, Canterbury) Running Style: Early speed Analysis: A sharp‑breaking colt who dominated his trial heat with a :22.4 opening quarter. The rail draw is ideal for his style. Figueroa is excellent with juveniles at Chippewa, and this colt has already shown he handles the surface well. Track Note: Loves the Chippewa dirt; strong gallop‑out in trial.
Post 2 – Northern Outlaw
Jockey: Stormy Smith Trainer: Kasey Willis Morning Line Odds: 4‑1 Recent Finishes: 1st (Trial Heat, Chippewa), 3rd (MSW, Prairie Meadows) Running Style: Stalker Analysis: A professional, steady colt who sits just off the pace and makes one run. His trial heat win was visually impressive, and he closed strongly late. If the pace gets hot, he becomes a major threat. Track Note: Handles fast dirt well; prefers a target to chase.
Post 3 – Prairie Gold Rush
Jockey: Nik Goodwin Trainer: Valorie Lund Morning Line Odds: 6‑1 Recent Finishes: 2nd (Trial Heat, Chippewa), 1st (MSW, North Dakota Horse Park) Running Style: Tactical speed Analysis: A versatile colt who can sit close or press the pace. Goodwin knows this circuit extremely well. His trial heat was solid, though he flattened slightly late. Improvement is possible second time over the track. Track Note: Best races have come on fast dirt.
Post 4 – Red River Rebel
Jockey: Clyde Smith Trainer: Shelly Brown Morning Line Odds: 10‑1 Recent Finishes: 3rd (Trial Heat, Chippewa), 4th (MSW, Assiniboia) Running Style: Mid‑pack Analysis: A grinding type who lacks early speed but keeps coming late. Needs a pace collapse to win. Brown’s juveniles often improve with racing, but this is a tough spot. Track Note: Has struggled on deeper tracks; fast dirt helps.
Post 5 – Chippewa Charger
Jockey: Don Proctor Trainer: Chad Pederson Morning Line Odds: 7‑2 Recent Finishes: 1st (Trial Heat, Chippewa), 2nd (MSW, Chippewa) Running Style: Front‑running Analysis: One of the fastest horses in the field early. His trial heat win was dominant, and he posted the quickest time of all qualifiers. If he clears early, he may be very tough to run down. Track Note: Perfect 2‑for‑2 in the money at Chippewa.
Post 6 – Frosty Frontier
Jockey: Quincy Hamilton Trainer: Wade Rarick Morning Line Odds: 8‑1 Recent Finishes: 2nd (Trial Heat, Chippewa), 3rd (MSW, Canterbury) Running Style: Closer Analysis: A late‑running colt who needs pace help. Hamilton is a strong finishing rider, but at 5 furlongs closers often run out of real estate. Still, he’s a good candidate for underneath spots. Track Note: Handles fast dirt well; prefers longer distances.
Post 7 – Spirit of the Plains
Jockey: Ry Eikleberry Trainer: Dan McFarlane Morning Line Odds: 12‑1 Recent Finishes: 4th (Trial Heat, Chippewa), 1st (MSW, Turf Paradise) Running Style: Pace‑pressing Analysis: A talented colt who won impressively at Turf Paradise but didn’t show the same spark in his trial heat. Eikleberry is one of the best riders on the circuit, but this colt must improve to contend. Track Note: First start on fast Chippewa dirt was below expectations.
Projected Pace Scenario
- Chippewa Charger (5) and Dakota Dynamo (1) are the two fastest early.
- Prairie Gold Rush (3) sits just behind them.
- Northern Outlaw (2) and Frosty Frontier (6) look to close late.
- Pace expected to be fast, favoring horses with tactical speed or strong late kicks.
Betting Trends & Angles
- Chippewa Downs strongly favors early speed at 5 furlongs.
- Trial heat winners historically perform well in the final.
- Inside posts (1–3) have a strong statistical advantage.
- Closers rarely win unless the pace collapses.
Final Prediction
- Dakota Dynamo (1)
- Chippewa Charger (5)
- Northern Outlaw (2)
- Prairie Gold Rush (3)
