The Bosque Ranch Brazos Bash was the only place to earn a spot in the 2027 Run For A Million Cutting Challenge, and 15 riders punched their tickets with the highest first go-round scores in Weatherford, Sept. 28–Oct. 2.
The qualifying spots belong to the riders, but each one needed a horse to put up the score. Those horses ranged from futurity age to seasoned 7 & Up campaigners. Just more than half of the qualifying runs came in the 7 & Up Open; five in the 5/6-Year-Old Open, while the 4-Year-Old Open produced the top mark of the bunch—Adan Banuelos’ 227 on Reyzin Hotty Toddy.
Michael Cooper posted 222 on two horses, and we included both in this list.
Here are the horses behind each rider’s best first-go score, and the owners who put them in the arena.
2027 Run For A Million Cutting Qualifiers
Editor’s note: These are the official 2027 The Run For A Million qualifying riders. The horse credits are our best match from the published Brazos Bash first go-round results and have not been confirmed by The Run For A Million.
Adan Banuelos
Reyzin Hotty Toddy, 227
Reyzin The Cash x Cats Red Rosita x High Brow Cat
Owner: Booner M Beck
Class: 4-Year-Old Open
James Payne
Nice Work Babe, 226
WR This Cats Smart x Just U Babe x Lizzys Gotta Player
Owner: Kathleen Moore
Class: 7 & Up Open
Cass Tatum
Boomer Cat, 225
Metallic Boom x Nurses Kitty x WR This Cats Smart
Owner: VP Cutting Horses LLC
Class: 7 & Up Open
Russ Westfall
Ripp Tide, 224
Metallic Rebel x Laguna Girl x CD Royal
Owner: Ripp Tide LLC
Class: 7 & Up Open
Kenny Platt
Lbr Hangem, 224
Dual Reyish x Hangem High Pep x Hickorys Indian Pep
Owner: Shotty Syndicate
Class: 5/6-Year-Old Open
Boyd Rice
Von Katness, 224
Stevie Rey Von x PG Katness x Playgun
Owner: Weatherby Ranch
Class: 5/6-Year-Old Open
Cookie Banuelos
Shezsomethinsweet, 224
Metallic Rebel x Sweet Lil Amanda x High Brow CD
Owner: Cookie Banuelos
Class: 5/6-Year-Old Open
Lance Cooper
Stevies Best Bet, 224
Stevie Rey Von x Bet Shes Smooth x Smooth As A Cat
Owner: Stevies Best Bet Partners
Class: 5/6-Year-Old Open
Tarin Rice
Call Me Stevie, 224
Stevie Rey Von x Call Me Catness x High Brow Cat
Owner: Julie & Mike Magness
Class: 4-Year-Old Open
Geoffrey “Spud” Sheehan
Deluxe Style, 223
Smooth Talkin Style x Deluxe Checks x Im Countin Checks
Owner: Geoffrey & Rebecca Sheehan
Class: 7 & Up Open
Brandon Westfall
Spookys Honey Badger, 222
Hottish x Spookys Nine Eleven x High Brow Cat
Owner: KT Ranch LLC
Class: 7 & Up Open
Grant Setnicka
Zigzagg, 222
Hottish x Justasassycat x High Brow Cat
Owner: Gregory S Williamson
Class: 7 & Up Open
Monty Buntin
Jae Zee, 222
Boon Too Suen x Eazee E x High Brow Cat
Owner: Bitterroot Ranch LLC
Class: 7 & Up Open
Michael Cooper
Lil Sue Von, 222
Stevie Rey Von x Nikes Lil Sue x Boon Too Suen
Owner: E J & Audrey Huntley
Class: 5/6-Year-Old Open
Cooper also scored a 222 on open futurity entry Tabblue, owned by Wheeler Dealer Cutting Horses, LP.
Lloyd Cox
Sho Boat, 221.5
Metallic Rebel x Reycy Moon x Cats Moonshine
Owner: Carpenter Farms
Class: 7 & Up Open