The Run For A Million Qualifiers announced from the NRCHA Stallion Stakes

The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) announced the top five riders qualified from The Run For A Million Cow Horse Event from the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes qualifier.

Out of a 69-horse field, it took a 440.5 composite score to earn a spot to the cow horse event, which will be held August 16-19 at the South Point Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas. Justin Wright of Santa Maria, California, secured his spot for The Run For A Million for the third year in a row. Wright rode Scooter Kat (Kit Kat Sugar x Scooters Daisey Dukes), a 2015 stallion owned by Eric Freitas, to a 449.5.

“I am truly excited to be getting to compete at The Run again this year. With our busy show schedule coming off the World’s Greatest and the American, I felt that Scooter was prepared and I didn’t want to waste an opportunity to get qualified with him,” Wright said.

The pair left nothing to chance in the qualifier. Wright and Scooter Kat marked the high score in the rein work portion with a 224.5 on Tuesday, March 28. The team returned Thursday, March 30 to mark a massive 225 early in the cow work. Their composite score held and they took home a check for $7,900 for the win.

The four additional riders who secured their spot at the Las Vegas qualifier are World’s Greatest Horseman champion, Shane Steffen from Powell Butte, Oregon, Snaffle Bit Futurity® Non Pro Champion, Abbie Phillips of Weatherford, Texas, World’s Greatest Horseman champion and NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, Clayton Edsall from Weatherford, Texas, and Snaffle Bit Futurity® champion and NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, Lance Johnston of Lindsey, California.

Between the remaining two qualifiers, there are 10 additional spots still up for grabs. The NRCHA will take five riders from the qualifier at the Western Derby, in Scottsdale, Arizona, June 1-12 and the Hackamore Classic, in Tulsa, Okla., July 24-30. For more information on upcoming events visit nrcha.com.