USPA Gold Cup

Wellington, FL – March 10, 2021 – Focusing on the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo®, four teams made their debut in the 2021 USPA Gold Cup® beginning with Tonkawa defeating Aspen/Dutta Corp 10-7, while La Indiana returned to the win column, defeating Pilot 13-11 on the Isla Carroll East field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

After seeing their hopes in the C.V. Whitney Cup dashed when losing a shootout, Tonkawa returned in the first game of Bracket I, controlling possession to capture their third victory of the season. Holding Aspen/Dutta Corp to zero field goals in the first half, Tonkawa was able to build a two-goal lead and maintain the gap throughout the second half due to the seven-goal performance from Sapo Caset. Aspen/Dutta Corp had their opportunities to match Tonkawa despite their struggles from the field, but 3 for 7 shooting from the penalty line ultimately sealed their fate in the 10-7 defeat.

Entering the game as the leading scorer in the Gauntlet with 7.7 goals per game, Caset continued his scoring pace by scoring two goals in the opening chukker, while also adding an assist to erase the one-goal difference on handicap and leave the game tied at 3-3. Aspen/Dutta Corp’s Timmy Dutta converted two Penalty 3 attempts, but it was the only offense his team could produce, held scoreless into the third chukker as Tonkawa pulled ahead. Drawing attention from the Aspen/Dutta Corp defense, Caset found Escobar with a pass for his first goal of the game and then capped off a strong first half with a Penalty 2 conversion to give Tonkawa the 6-4 lead at halftime.

End-to-end polo highlighted the start of the second half as the two teams combined for 10 shots in the fourth chukker. Stewart Armstrong was able to finally end the drought from the field for Aspen/Dutta Corp, scoring their first field goal of the game, but it was met by a swift response from Caset to keep Tonkawa ahead by two. Finding some momentum in the fifth chukker, Aspen/Dutta Corp began to pressure the Tonkawa defense as they pushed to close the gap and pull even beginning with field goals from Dutta and Gringo Colombres. Trailing by just one, Aspen/Dutta Corp was a step away from tying the score when Caset once again provided an answer for Tonkawa as the 10-goaler proved to be the difference-maker in the game. The defense of Tonkawa stepped up in the final chukker, holding Aspen/Dutta Corp off the scoreboard to complete the 10-7 victory.

Tonkawa held Aspen/Dutta Corp off the scoreboard in the final chukker to solidify the win. ©Alex Pacheco

An injury to Facundo Pieres forced Pilot to bring a new line-up that included Lucas James and Matias Gonzalez, who returned to the Pilot line-up for the first time since 2019 when he was a part of the undefeated Gauntlet of Polo® team. Facing a difficult task in La Indiana, Pilot kept pace due to the accurate 7 for 8 penalty shooting from Gonzalito Pieres, but La Indiana was able to overwhelm Pilot in open play with a balanced attack, receiving goals from all four players while shooting above 50% in what turned into a high-scoring game. Holding Pilot without a field goal over the final four chukkers, La Indiana was able to overcome their foul trouble to narrowly edge Pilot and begin their USPA Gold Cup® with a 13-11 victory.

Despite the changes to their line-up, Pilot raced out of the gate thanks to the play of Gonzalito Pieres, who accounted for both Pilot goals in the opening chukker while helping to prevent the potent La Indiana attack from scoring. That quickly changed in the second chukker after La Indiana scored on three consecutive shots at goal to erase the two-goal deficit and take a 3-2 lead. The momentum swung back and forth as Pilot, once again led by Gonzalito Pieres, produced a run of four straight goals to charge back into the lead, with the fast pace suiting Pilot’s style of play. Before the end of the half, the speed of the game slowed as La Indiana found themselves in foul trouble, committing five fouls that led to two penalty conversions for Gonzalito Pieres and a 7-6 lead at halftime for Pilot.

La Indiana overcame Pilot with a final score of 13-11. ©Alex Pacheco

Held without a shot for the second consecutive chukker, Pilot could no longer hold off a determined La Indiana attack that pulled even on Polito Pieres’ fourth goal of the game. With the teams tied at 8-8, the final two chukkers decided the outcome and it was La Indiana’s defense that emerged as a storyline. Pilot produced just one shot at goal throughout the entire second half, leaving their offense to come from the penalty line where Gonzalito Pieres continued to convert with regularity. Adding three more penalty goals over the final two chukkers, Gonzalito Pieres kept Pilot even at 11-11 with time running down. However, La Indiana’s ability to control open play ultimately won in the end as Polito Pieres and Jeff Hall scored two quick field goals to end the game and secure the hard-fought 13-11 win.

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

The teams were tied 8-8 at the end of the fourth chukker, but La Indiana’s defense helped them to seal the victory. ©Alex Pacheco

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 8, 2021 – After the excitement of Sunday’s C.V. Whitney Cup® final, play began on Monday in the USPA Gold Cup®, the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo® with Coca-Cola using a determined defense in the second half to capture the 10-8 victory on Field 3 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Bringing in a substitute for 9-goaler Nico Pieres, who is averaging 6.8 goals per game, Coca-Cola was able to find quick chemistry with Diego Cavanagh, who performed well with two goals and two assists while slowing Santa Clara’s attack. Coca-Cola struggled with penalty shooting in the early stages of the game but drove their offense forward with a balanced team effort in open play to narrowly edge Santa Clara in a game where all eight players found the scoresheet. After scoring consistently in the first half, Santa Clara had difficulties creating the same amount of scoring chances against a reorganized Coca-Cola defense that held them scoreless in the fourth and fifth chukker, ultimately leading to the 10-8 defeat.

Stepping into Penalty 2 and 3 taking duties, Mackenzie Weisz converted a penalty on the opening drive of the game in what turned into a stop and start first chukker. A combined five penalty attempts were seen between the two teams, but Weisz’s early conversion was the only one that found its way through the posts, with Coca-Cola unable to convert any of their other four opportunities. Goals from Will Johnston and Luis Escobar tied the score at 2-2 with Coca-Cola and Santa Clara continuing to trade goals throughout the first half, led by Weisz and Johnston, who pulled their teams forward. Gillian Johnston extended Coca-Cola’s lead to two with time running out in the first half, but back-to-back goals from Santa Clara’s Felipe Vercellino and Miguel Novillo Astrada restored the tie at 4-4.

Gillian Johnston extended Coca-Cola’s lead to two with time running out in the first half. ©Alex Pacheco

With the game up for grabs, it was Coca-Cola that charged out of the halftime break with a relentless pressure that shifted momentum in their favor. Outshooting Santa Clara 5-0, Coca-Cola built a two-goal lead as Cavanagh made an impact with his second goal of the game while working effectively alongside Julian de Lusarreta to stifle any counterattack. Defense continued to be the storyline of the second half as Santa Clara was kept off the scoreboard for the second consecutive chukker, watching the deficit grow to three after a goal from de Lusarreta as Coca-Cola took control with one chukker remaining. Unwilling to concede defeat, Santa Clara began the sixth chukker with a determined focus to pull within reach. Two goals in quick succession from Astrada and Will Johnston left Santa Clara trailing by just one with time ticking down. Despite their best efforts, Santa Clara could not pull even as Gillian Johnston scored to seal the 10-8 victory.

Coca-Cola charged out of the halftime break with a relentless pressure that shifted momentum in their favor. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – February 14, 2021 – The conclusion to the 2020 edition of the USPA Gold Cup® at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) was in doubt when postponed on March 17, 2020, but nearly a year later, it was La Indiana that finally emerged as the champions with a strong performance on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1, defeating Daily Racing Form 14-9. A balanced team performance that was led by five goals from Polito Pieres, La Indiana etched their name on the coveted USPA Gold Cup® trophy and claimed the $100,000 prize to officially conclude the 2020 season.

After narrowly defeating the 2019 Gauntlet of Polo® champion Pilot for the second time in the semifinal, La Indiana had their sights set on the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® title and produced a dominant performance against Daily Racing Form. Conceding only one goal in the first half, La Indiana scored a stretch of nine unanswered goals by controlling possession and keeping Daily Racing Form pinned in their own half. Youngsters Nico Escobar and Juan Cruz Marcos led the La Indiana team at the front of the game, combining for six goals as part of an efficient La Indiana offense, while Daily Racing Form was limited to just four field goals throughout the game. Finding redemption from his 2019 defeat in the final with Aspen, Pieres led the way offensively throughout the tournament, capping off his performance with five goals in La Indiana’s convincing five-goal victory.

La Indiana defeated Daily Racing Form with a score of 14 to 9. ©Alex Pacheco

With Marcos’ recent increase to a three-goal handicap, Daily Racing Form began the game with a one-goal advantage that quickly increased to two on a penalty conversion from Zenni. Foul trouble hindered La Indiana in the early stages of the game, committing three fouls, but after re-organizing in the final stages of the first chukker, La Indiana dominated the remainder of the half. The second chukker set the tone for La Indiana as they outscored Daily Racing Form 5-0, with Pieres converting both of his penalty attempts while also adding a goal from the field. Held without a shot attempt, Daily Racing Form remained a step behind with La Indiana continuing to build on their lead. In a well-rounded attack, La Indiana saw all four players find the scoresheet after Jeff Hall added two goals in the third chukker. La Indiana’s defense was nearly impenetrable as Daily Racing Form failed to score a goal from the field and were left facing a 9-2 deficit at halftime.

Jeff Hall celebrates the team‘s victory with teammate Nico Escobar. ©Alex Pacheco

Daily Racing Form emerged out of the halftime break displaying some urgency as they sought to narrow the gap on the scoreboard. From the back of the game, accurate passing from Tommy Collingwood set up two goals for Daily Racing Form as they finally broke through from the field on two goals from Costi Caset and one from Jared Zenni. Scoring five of the first six goals to begin the second half, Daily Racing Form quickly turned a seven-goal difference to just three as the momentum of the final changed. With plenty of time remaining in the fifth chukker, La Indiana responded with the team-based attack that ultimately proved to be the difference in the game. One goal from each of the four La Indiana players brought their lead back to seven with one chukker remaining. With a focus on managing their lead, La Indiana sat back to protect against open runs to goal, watching time tick down until the final horn sounded and they captured the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® with the impressive 14-9 victory.

Hall was awarded Most Valuable Player, while Best Playing Pony was given to Machitos Pangea, played by Polito Pieres.

Jeff Hall, pictured with Steve Rudolph, was presented with an Ewheel as the Most Valuable Player. ©Alex Pacheco

The 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup will begin Wednesday, February 17, at 11 a.m. at IPC as Coca Cola takes on Pilot. Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – February 9, 2021 – After securing quarterfinal victories in the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® in March of 2020, Daily Racing Form, Las Monjitas, La Indiana, and Pilot would never have imagined that they would need to wait 332 days to compete in the semifinals. Postponed on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second edition of the Gauntlet of Polo® was abruptly suspended, leaving the four teams just two games from capturing the 2020 USPA Gold Cup®. Rescheduled in 2021, the semifinals feature the same four teams, yet only Daily Racing Form returns with the same line-up as the teams gear up for an exciting day of play on February 10th at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC).

Fighting their way into the semifinals, Daily Racing Form (Costi Caset, Agustin Obregon, Jared Zenni, Tommy Collingwood) faced the most adversity in 2020 of the remaining teams, losing their two opening games to La Indiana and Santa Clara, leaving no room for error. Capturing a crucial overtime victory over Postage Stamp Farm, Daily Racing Form set up a rematch with Santa Clara and emerged with a memorable 10-9 victory thanks to the six-goal, two-assist performance from Zenni. A well-rounded line-up of two 5-goalers and two 6-goalers, Daily Racing Form displayed a quick passing game, moving the ball via the pass rather than individual runs. Assisting on 60% of their field goals, Daily Racing Form enters 2021 with the same line-up that saw Zenni lead the way with 4.3 goals per game, followed by Obregon with 2.3 goals per game. The emergence of Caset at the 18-goal level for Palm Beach Equine, where he led all players in scoring in the Ylvisaker Cup, will be needed to challenge a new Las Monjitas team. Defensively, Collingwood was the steady presence for Daily Racing Form with consistent backhands to start the attack downfield.

One of the more intriguing storylines entering the semifinals is Las Monjitas, who won the first leg of the Gauntlet of Polo® in 2020 and are beginning the season with a six-game unbeaten streak thanks to the play of David Stirling and Francisco Elizalde. However, in 2021, Las Monjitas (Melissa Ganzi, TBA, Pablo MacDonough, Juan Martin Nero) will feature an entirely new line-up consisting of two 10-goalers in MacDonough and Nero. Familiarity will not be an issue with the duo having extensive experience together playing on La Dolfina in Argentina for the past decade and winning consistently on the global stage. Last seen at IPC capturing the U.S. Open Polo Championship® in 2016 with Orchard Hill, Nero is the consummate #4 position player that will give Las Monjitas an added factor defensively, allowing MacDonough to play the end-to-end style of play that will pressure Daily Racing Form in their semifinal matchup. Joining the duo is Ganzi, who has consistently played at the highest levels of polo in the USA, captaining the Flexjet team at IPC in 2018.

Las Monjitas will conclude the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® with a whole new team. ©Alex Pacheco

The second semi-final provides a close comparison to 2020, with both Pilot (Curtis Pilot, Keko Magrini, Gonzalito Pieres, Facundo Pieres) and La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Nico Escobar, Polito Pieres, Jeff Hall) substituting just one player due to handicap increases. Capturing the inaugural Gauntlet of Polo® in 2019 by winning the C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup®, and CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship®, Pilot provides one of the most formidable duos in polo in Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres. The only undefeated team in the 2020 USPA Gold Cup®, Pilot led all teams with 8.5 field goals per game, playing an effective two-man game that saw the duo combine for an impressive 10.0 goals per game from the field and penalty line. Curtis Pilot works tirelessly in the #1 position and with the addition of Magrini, who is coming off a strong showing with Santa Clara where he was named MVP of the Joe Barry Cup final, Pilot looks as dominant as ever, but faces a La Indiana team that ended their 18-game Gauntlet of Polo® win streak in the 2020 C.V. Whitney Cup.

Replacing Santiago Gomez Romero with Nico Escobar, La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Nico Escobar, Jeff Hall, Polito Pieres) enters the semifinal with a similar lineup, led by the play of 10-goaler Pieres, who was first among all players with 6.8 goals per game and fifth in assists before play was postponed. With the steady experience of Hall and Bickford off the ball, Pieres attacked relentlessly to draw the attention of opponents, providing the high-powered semifinal with the three Piereses. Adding Escobar to the mix as a capable scorer at the front of the game, La Indiana has the ability to match the offense of Pilot in a must-watch semifinal.

Pilot enters the semifinals of the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® as the only undefeated team. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.