Pilot

North America, Polo News

Pilot crowned inaugural Gauntlet of Polo™ Champion

26. April 2019

For the first time ever in the sport of polo, Pilot polo team secured its place in history as the inaugural winner of the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ title with a score of 12-7 over Las Monjitas by winning the U.S. Open Polo Championship^® the third leg of the GAUNTLET series which took place at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) on the U.S. Polo Assn. stadium field in Wellington, Florida.

Over the past three months, Pilot played against the highest level of skilled athletes and ponies and managed to clinch wins in all three GAUNTLET events — the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup^®and the U.S. Open Polo Championship^®— as well as capture the $1 million purse, the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ trophy and the prestigious GAUNTLET Champion title.

“It’s amazing to win, it’s like a fairy tale for all of us, the whole team. I started playing polo when I was 49 years old. It’s been an amazing three months and I have to give a shout-out to Mia Bray, a young up-and-coming female polo player, who covered the first three games so I could handle some personal issues,” said Curtis Pilot, team owner.

Pilot received the “Winner Take All” prize money of $1M along with the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ trophy. The hand-crafted, three-foot trophy features three horses representing each GAUNTLET event guarding a tower glorified with the GAUNTLET logo and an inlaid onyx polo horse head to recognize the sport’s equine partner. This trophy will remind future generations of polo competitors, fans, media and sponsors of the strategy, skill and commitment it takes to have your team name inscribed on the trophy and be crowned the GAUNTLET Champion.

“The GAUNTLET challenged the world’s top polo players and ponies to strive to achieve a new goal. We’re thrilled that Pilot earned the first-ever GAUNTLET OF POLO™ Champion title,” said David Cummings, President and CEO, Global Polo Entertainment. “We created the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ as a sports property that will grow in value through player participation, spectator attendance, viewership and sponsorship involvement. In addition, we delivered a positive economic impact to Palm Beach County by hosting thousands of fans, players and horses from around the world over a three-month period and by showcasing the competition to millions of fans on air and online.”

The final game of the U.S. Open Polo Championship^® will air on CBS Sports, on Sunday, April 28 at 2:00pm EDT, and on Eurosport on April 29 at 6:30pm CET and Dsport to more than 250+ million households in more than 66 countries.

Photo: @gauntletofpolo / Global Polo Entertainment

For the first time ever in the sport of polo, Pilot polo team secured its place in history as the inaugural winner of the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ title with a score of…

North America, Polo News

Pilot competes in the U.S. Open for the Gauntlet of Polo

8. April 2019

If Pilot Polo Team wins the U.S. Open Polo Championship^®on April 21, the team will be the first ever GAUNTLET Champion and receive the 1 Million Dollar Purse. Pilot secured its title as the winner of the USPA Gold Cup^®on March 25 with a score of 12-11 over Aspen at the U.S. Polo Assn. Stadium Field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Fla. With the latest win from Pilot, the stakes are higher than ever with the potential of a first ever GAUNTLET OF POLO™ champion. The team, winning every game of the first two tournaments, is on its way to be crowned the first ever GAUNTLET Champion. The next chapter will be determined on April 21, after Pilot competes in the U.S. Open Polo Championship^®, held March 27 through April 21, 2019.

The inaugural GAUNTLET OF POLO was created to develop a high-stakes polo competition that offers players and fans an exciting three months of the highest level of skilled athletes, equine partners and strategic planning that ends with $1M prize across three tournaments – C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.

For the first time in the sport, the tournament series will include a “Winner Take All” prize money format. Pilot has already secured $125,000 for winning the C.V. Whitney Cup plus $125,000 for winning the USPA Gold Cup. And if they win the U.S. Open Polo Championship they will receive a $250,000 prize, $500,000 bonus and be crowned the GAUNTLET Champion.

“We are thrilled to see a team progress this far in the first-ever GAUNTLET OF POLO. The team is competing for more than just bragging rights, they are competing for $1M and the Gauntlet Champion, polo’s ultimate test. In addition to strategic planning and outstanding athleticism required to win this many games consecutively, the GAUNTLET offers existing and new fans a fun and exciting day of polo. Whether it’s a VIP brunch or “courtside” seats on the stadium side, we have activities for everyone,” said David Cummings, President and CEO, Global Polo Entertainment.

One key differentiation in the GAUNTLET OF POLO is that for the first time in history there are 16 teams (64 players and a minimum of 640 polo horses) playing consistently across all three tournaments. The GAUNTLET also features some of the world’s finest 10 goal players, premier athletes who have a lifetime’s worth of equine and polo achievements that require a level of expertise shared by less than 1 percent of the polo population. This year’s participating 10 goalers are #2 in the world, Facundo Pieres, Polito Pieres, Sapo Caset, Hilario Ulloa, Gonzalito Pieres and Nico Pieres.

All GAUNTLET games will be livestreamed on USPA Polo Network or live-streamed on the U.S. Polo Network YouTube channel each week with the final event airing on CBS Sports, April 28 at 2 PM EDT.

by United States Polo Association

www.internationalpoloclub.com

If Pilot Polo Team wins the U.S. Open Polo Championship® on April 21, the team will be the first ever GAUNTLET Champion and receive the 1 Million Dollar Purse. Pilot…

North America, Polo News

Team Pilot takes home the historic Butler Handicap trophy

1. February 2019

by United States Polo Association

After Dutta Corp and Pilot’s Sunday, January 27, featured match on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field 1 at International Polo Club Palm Beach (Wellington, Florida) was postponed due to rain, the game was rescheduled for Thursday, January 31. Competing not only for top ranking in their Ylvisaker Cup bracket, the two teams challenged one another to take home the historic Butler Handicap trophy. Dutta Corp’s undefeated season, having swept both the Herbie Pennell Cup and the Joe Barry Cup, was ended by Pilot who assumed the lead from the second chukker to claim victory and the trophy 10-8.

As an enhancement to the Ylvisaker Cup tournament, the Butler Handicap trophy was presented in honor of Paul Butler and his close friendship with Bill Ylvisaker. Established at Oak Brook Polo Club (Oak Brook, Illinois) in 1954 in honor of Paul Butler, his litany of polo accomplishments, including 29 dedicated years on the USPA Board of Governors, warranted a commemorative tournament. Oak Brook Polo Club also played a large role in Bill Ylvisaker’s polo career. In 2014, due to the combined efforts of the Butler family and the USPA, the historic Butler Handicap was officially adopted as a national USPA event.

Dutta Corp predicted a strong force in their first matchup against Pilot, with formidable 10-goaler Facundo Pieres on the roster, and made a sizable effort to remain one step ahead of their opponents in the first chukker. After several minutes of battling for possession, Lucas Diaz Alberdi cut the ball between the goal posts to earn Dutta Corp’s first goal of the game, intercepting a tailshot by Curtis Pilot. Taking advantage of Kris Kampsen’s precision from the penalty line, Dutta Corp picked up a Penalty 2 conversion, but was matched soon after by Pieres. Although Timmy Dutta was working hard to keep defenders at bay, Pilot began to pull ahead in the second with three consecutive goals, one from the field and two Penalty 2 conversions. Leaving Dutta Corp scoreless, Pilot took the lead for the first time 4-3 headed into the third. Closing in on halftime, both teams played with discipline, sticking to their men and creating room for their teammates to score. Trading goals twice and making quick, strategic plays, Pilot came out with a narrow lead 6-5 at halftime.

In a second half dominated by Pieres, Pilot continued to rally around their offensive machine, shutting out Dutta Corp once again in the fourth. Picking up his fourth goal of the day, Diaz Alberdi barreled between the goal posts just ahead of Matias Gonzalez*. Retaliating with two strong goals from the field, Pieres expertly maneuvered his way past a pack of defenders to end the fifth 9-6 in favor of Pilot. Running out of time to make their comeback, Dutta Corp made a solid bet on Kampsen who delivered from the Penalty 4 line. Demonstrating his 10-goal status, Pieres took his seventh goal of the day, Dutta Corp unable to create enough momentum to overtake him. Dutta Corp added one more off the stick of Gringo Colombres with just over a minute remaining in the sixth, but ultimately could not subdue Pilot’s excellent team play, surrendering the win 10-8.

Pilot’s Matias Gonzalez was named Most Valuable Player. “I got a call from Facundo Pieres about organizing a team in Florida when I was finishing up playing the high-goal season in Dubai,” Gonzalez said. “I traveled to Argentina with Pilot before coming here.” Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to Argentine chestnut mare Open Kattia (Ellerstina Picaro x Karenza), a 9-year-old competing in her second season in the U.S. played by Facundo Pieres in the fifth chukker.

The Ylvisaker Cup continues on Sunday, February 3, with a full day of polo. For the most updated schedule of games and times please visit uspolo.org.

by United States Polo Association After Dutta Corp and Pilot’s Sunday, January 27, featured match on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field 1 at International Polo Club Palm Beach (Wellington, Florida) was…

North America, Polo News

Pilot’s perfect record predicts Iglehart Cup results

16. March 2018

Succumbing to Pilot in their first game of the tournament, La Indiana was granted another opportunity to rectify their one loss in the Iglehart Cup Final on Thursday, March 15, at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. Despite a strong comeback in the sixth, La Indiana was unable to stop Pilot’s offensive drives and they ultimately took the trophy 11-9.

Utilizing the strong defensive skills of their teammates to create breaks, Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres opened the first with two commanding goal shots from the field. Winning the next throw-in and galloping straight to goal, La Indiana countered with two impressive goals of their own. Excellent blocking from Timmy Dutta kept Facundo Pieres well out of La Indiana’s reach throughout the first half, as he thundered across the field relatively unchallenged, easily picking up two field goals by the end of the second chukker to double up the score 6-3 in favor of Pilot.

“It was a pleasure to play with Curtis as a team,” Dutta said graciously. “He and I go back and forth, one of us to one guy one to the ball, it’s amazing. We knew that after playing La Indiana before they were going to come back even stronger in the finals, so we had to prepare, but I think we did well today.” Benefiting from penalty conversions, La Indiana slowly began to close the deficit with strong plays by Facundo Obregon and Toro Ruiz, ending the half trailing by one 6-7.

Making the only goal with a shot approximately 40-yards from the posts, Ruiz played a fearless fourth chukker. Diverted temporarily in the fourth, Pilot’s prowess accelerated them into the lead in the fifth with three consecutive goals by the Pieres brothers. Once in possession of the ball, Facundo Pieres surged forward, dodging the mallets of defenders as he rode out in front free and clear. Starting off the sixth 10-7 with Pilot leading, La Indiana would have to elevate their game in an attempt to overtake the lead.

Aggressive plays by both sides led to two pivotal penalty conversions for La Indiana, providing the motivation they needed for a final push. The clock ran down as La Indiana searched desperately for the equalizer. In the final moments however, Facundo Pieres would seal Pilot’s victory with a goal from the penalty line, his eighth of the game, bringing the final score 11-9.

His first time competing in a high-goal final, Curtis Pilot enjoyed every moment of the experience. “It was a fantastic win, we played La Indiana which I think is one of the best teams to play because they are very aggressive,” Pilot said. “We have great horses and a great organization with Gonzalo de la Fuente.”

Responsible for four out of nine total goals for La Indiana, Toro Ruiz was named Most Valuable Player. Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to So Easy, a 12-year-old mare ridden by Gonzalito Pieres in the second and sixth chukkers. “She’s a mare that has played in the [Argentine] Open with me many times, she in the last one too, and I decided to bring her because I knew she was going to help me a lot—and it’s happening,” Gonzalito Pieres said with a laugh. “She is bred from an American mare called Easy Go, that Facundo [Pieres] bought from Charlie Armstrong, and a stallion named Picaro.”

The USPA Polo Network will livestream both the USPA Gold Cup® and the Carlos Gracida Cup on Saturday, March 17, beginning at 10:30 am ET from the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

www.uspolo.org