Some performances define a season. Others define a career. But every so often, one ride leaves an indelible mark on the sport itself. At The Run For A Million, that ride belonged to Arnaud Girinon and Flexing Guns N Town.
The 2019 stallion, sired by the late great Hollywoodstinseltown and out of Shesa Fashion Gun (by Gunner), entered Las Vegas as a respected contender, but not the odds-on favourite. That spotlight was squarely on U.S. reining royalty: Andrea Fappani, Casey Deary, Kole Price, and a field stacked with million-dollar riders.
But Arnaud and Flexing Guns N Town came to the desert with quiet confidence—and a history of excellence overseas, including a 230.5 score at the NRHA European Derby. Those who had seen them school earlier in the week knew something extraordinary was about to unfold.
A Ride That Left the Arena Breathless
From the very first stop, Flexing Guns N Town announced himself. The dirt flew, the turns were huge and correct, and the cadence of his slow circle left the entire South Point Arena in reverent silence. Then came the fast circles—locked in with precision, speed, and brilliance—before three stops that brought the crowd to its feet.
When Arnaud tipped his hat at the end of the run, it was more than a gesture. It was a moment of gratitude to a horse that had just given him everything. The scorecards confirmed what the audience already knew: history had been made.
With the win, Flexing Guns N Town secured his place among the sport’s brightest stars, pushing his lifetime earnings past $600,000 and etching his name forever into reining history.
A Pedigree Twist: Hotrodders Jet Set
What makes Flexing Guns N Town’s story even more compelling lies deeper in his maternal line. His second dam, Shesa Fashion Chic (by Smart Chic Olena), traces back to Miss Fashion Feet—a mare sired by Hotrodders Jet Set.
Hotrodders Jet Set is a name that rarely appears in reining pedigrees. Instead, he’s immortalized as one of the greats of the western pleasure world. Foaled in 1979, Hotrodders Jet Set went on to sire BLAZING HOT – Hotrodders Jet Set's highest earning son, himself a two-time AQHA World Champion, NSBA Hall of Famer, Multiple Congress Champion, and a stallion with over $4 million in progeny earnings, RADICAL RODDER, and Krymsun Jet Set (dam of One Hot Krymsun), among many other incredible show horses.
Though western pleasure and reining are often thought of as separate worlds, moments like this remind us that talent transcends disciplines. Perhaps Flexing Guns N Town’s breathtaking cadence in his slow circles and natural ability to “pitter-patter” through his lope trace back, in part, to the influence of Hotrodders Jet Set. It’s a pedigree connection that stands as a reminder: greatness can come from unexpected places.
More Than Just a Victory
Flexing Guns N Town was bred by Peter Morgan of Morgan Reiners in Florida and is proudly owned by Anna Maria Scheiflinger. His dam, Shesa Fashion Gun, had no LTE herself—but now boasts a produce record exceeding $615,000, thanks largely to Flexing Guns N Town's career.
This victory is more than just a triumph in the show pen. It’s a celebration of horsemanship, belief, and preparation. It’s proof that winners aren’t always bred from the “perfect” page on paper, but from heart, grit, and the right partnership.
As the dust settled in Las Vegas, one thing was clear: Arnaud Girinon and Flexing Guns N Town gave the reining world a Run for a Million story we’ll never forget.
