reining horse stopping
As "The Last Cowboy" gains momentum on Paramount Network, the anticipation is building for the Run For A Million. • Photo by Cam Essick, courtesy of the Run For A Million

Millionaire Match-Up: Run For A Million Horses Revealed

The suspense is building! What horses will hit the dirt in Las Vegas for the Run For A Million Invitational? Quarter Horse News (QHN) has the scoop.

QHN caught up with the riders scheduled to compete in reining’s richest event on Aug. 17, including those featured in Paramount Network’s “The Last Cowboy” television show. According to the trainers, these are the horses (listed alphabetically, including alternates) they plan to haul to the South Point Hotel & Casino in pursuit of the $500,000 first-place payout at the Run For A Million.


FRANCO BERTOLANI

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Colonels Dancing Gun – 14S (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Dance Little Spook)

Dun It For Whizkey – 13S (Topsail Whiz x Dun It For Chex)

Gunner Dun It Again – 11S (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Dun Its Deja Vu)

Masked Gun – 14S (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Dun It For Chex)

  • LTE: $86,038
  • 2017 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open finalist
  • 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist

ABBY LENGEL

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Gotta Twist It Up – 13S (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Make It With A Twist)

Phantom Face – 13S (Pale Face Dunnit x Gorgeous Like A Star)

  • LTE: $105,632
  • 2019 NRBC Derby Level 4 Open finalist
  • 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist

Lengel confirmed she and Craig Schmersal will share Phantom Face as an alternate.

SHAWN FLARIDA

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Hollywooddirtysecret – 15G (Hollywoodstinseltown x Maximum RPM)

Oops Itsa Spooks – 13S (Spooks Gotta Gun x Tejons Finally Dunit)

Spooks Gotta Spark – 13S (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena)

  • LTE: $60,540
  • 2018 NRBC Levels 4 & 3 Open finalist
  • 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist

JASON VANLANDINGHAM

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

A Vintage Smoke – 15S (A Sparkling Vintage x Lady Smoke Peppy)

Spooks Gotta Crush – 15S (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Megas Sugar Baby)

  • LTE: $42,938
  • 2018 NRHA Futurity Levels 4 & 3 Open finalist
  • 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist

CADE MCCUTCHEON

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Custom Made Gun – 11S (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Custom Made Dunit)

Shes Got Good Guns – 13M (Gunner x A Bueno Poco Dunit)

MATT MILLS

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Chic Dreamin – 12S (Magnum Chic Dream x Skeets Red Dunit)

Tinker With Dreams – 14S (Tinker With Guns x This Chicsdundreamin)

  • LTE: $163,935
  • 2018 Low Roller Reining Classic Levels 4, 3 & 2 Open Champion (Score: 225)
  • 2019 NRBC Derby Levels 4 & 3 Open finalist

Wimps Cool Breeze – 10S (Wimpys Little Step x QHR Jamaica Express)

  • LTE: $129,618
  • 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open finalist
  • 2016 High Roller Reining Classic Derby Level 3 Open Champion (Score: 227.5)

CASEY DEARY

casey deary
Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Americas Supermodel – 15M (Walla Walla Whiz x Americasnextgunmodel)

Gunnarickashay – 15S (Gunnatrashya x Rondas Tio)

  • LTE: $66,941
  • 2018 All American Quarter Horse Congress Reining Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion (Score: 224)
  • 2019 NRBC Derby Level 4 Open finalist

Lonely At The Top – 14M (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Wimpys Little Chic)

Whiz Gata Prize – 13S (Topsail Whiz x Smart Little Prize)

DUANE LATIMER

duane latimer
Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Ruf Lil Magnum – 12S (Magnum Chic Dream x Dunit A Lil Ruf)

  • LTE: $107,276
  • 2017 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open Co-Champion (Score: 223)
  • 2018 AQHA Senior Reining World Champion (Score: 224.5)

Latimer plans to ride Ruf Lil Magnum at the event and has not released information about his potential alternates.

TOM MCCUTCHEON

tom mccutcheon
Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Gunna Cash Ya – 15S (Lil Joe Cash x Gunners Blonde Chic)

ANDREA FAPPANI

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Lil Joe Cash – 08S (Nu Chex To Cash x RS Lilly Starlight)

  • LTE: $279,077
  • 2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion (Score: 227.5)
  • 2012 AQHA Junior Reining World Champion (Score: 228)

Modern Gun – 13S (Gunners Special Nite x Taris Modern Design)

Platinum Vintage – 10S (A Sparkling Vintage x Starjac Miss)

JORDAN LARSON

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

ARC Gunnabeabigstar – 11S (Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic)

Gunna Outshine Ya – 15S (Gunnatrashya x Sailing Spark)

  • LTE: $31,627
  • 2018 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open finalist
  • 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist

Xtra Goodstep – 13S (Wimpys Little Step x Miss N Becky)

  • LTE: $53,890
  • 2019 NRBC Derby Level 4 Open finalist
  • 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist

CRAIG SCHMERSAL

Courtesy of the Run For A Million

Hot Hollywood Whizky – 12G (Topsail Whiz x Hot Hollywood Jewels)

No Smoking Required – 13S (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Icing Required)

  • LTE: $169,085
  • 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open finalist
  • 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Reserve Champion (Score: 231)

Phantom Face – 13S (Pale Face Dunnit x Gorgeous Like A Star)

  • LTE: $105,632
  • 2019 NRBC Derby Level 4 Open finalist
  • 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist

Shining In Town – 13S (Hollywoodstinseltown x Shine Ann)

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