At Bosque Ranch, it came down to one run—andGabriel Borgesdelivered.
Marking a 230, Borges won the 2026The Run For A MillionQualifier, 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 aboardSpooks Gotta Ice, a horse that has steadily developed into a major contender. The pair previously captured the the100X Tulsa Reining Classic 4-Year-Old Stakestitle 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 andMartin 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-backNRHALevel 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.