At Bosque Ranch, it came down to one run—and Gabriel Borges delivered.
Marking a 230, Borges won the 2026 The Run For A Million Qualifier, punching his ticket to Las Vegas and closing out the final spots in one of reining’s most exclusive lineups.
Borges Carries Winning Momentum Into Las Vegas
Borges’ win continues a stretch that has defined his rise over the past year. After crossing the $1 million rider mark and finishing reserve champion at the NRHA Level 4 Futurity he has remained a constant threat in top-level competition.
His qualifier victory came aboard Spooks Gotta Ice, a horse that has steadily developed into a major contender. The pair previously captured the the 100X Tulsa Reining Classic 4-Year-Old Stakes title in 2025.
Now, with another major win added to his résumé, Borges returns to Las Vegas for a second time to compete in the main event.
Proven Contenders Close Behind
A tie for second brought together two riders well-acquainted with the Las Vegas stage: Francesco Martinotti and Martin Muehlstaetter, each marking a 228.5.
Martinotti piloted Smoking Trash, a horse he has shown extensively at the sport’s highest levels. The pair boasts more than $149,000 in lifetime earnings and multiple appearances at The Run For A Million, including Top 10 finishes in both the million-dollar event and the $100K Shootout.
Muehlstaetter, who placed 5th at The Run For A Million in 2023, rode Smoky Mountain Rein, a horse that has proven himself at the highest levels of non-pro competition, earning back-to-back NRHA Level 4 Non Pro Derby Co-Championships (2024, 2025) and the 2025 NRBC Non Pro title under Muehlstaetter’s wife, Kim.
The Final Nine From Bosque Ranch’s 2026 The Run For A Million Qualifier
From a deep international field, nine riders advanced through the single-class qualifier:
1. Gabriel Borges — 230
T-2. Francesco Martinotti — 228.5
T-2. Martin Muehlstaetter — 228.5
4. Dany Tremblay — 228
5. Cade McCutcheon — 227
T-6. Mirko Midili — 226
T-6. Trevor Elliot Dare — 226
T-8. Arno Honstetter — 225.5
T-8. Ben Beckett — 225.5
The Full Field: 16 Riders Headed to Las Vegas
With the qualifier complete, the full field for The Run for a Million is now set.
Previously qualified riders earned their spots through top finishes at the 2025 TRFAM $100K Shootout, international qualification events, and returning exemptions:
- Andrea Fappani — 2025 TRFAM $100K Shootout Champion
- Kole Price — 2025 TRFAM $100K Shootout
- Casey Deary — 2025 TRFAM $100K Shootout
- Jason Vanlandingham — 2025 TRFAM $100K Shootout
- Gina-Maria Schumacher — 2025 TRFAM $100K Shootout
- Alessandro Frassa — Equita Lyon Western Horse Show (European event)
- Fernando Salgado — returning qualified rider from 2025 (injury exemption)
They will be joined by the nine riders advancing from Bosque Ranch—bringing the total field to 16.