It was a day of downright good polo at Santa Barbara Polo Club today. It was the semi finals of the Pacific Coast Open, so it was to be expected. The games were played under nice conditions and the fields are what they normal are at the end of a summer, but the conditions are the same for both teams.
In game one it was AUDI, who are undefeated so far this year. This can be contributed to the USPA. Audi is like a 24-goal team who is lined up now to play Lucchese in the first semis. It was very close throughout the first half, except the first chukker where Audi went up 3 to 0. By the end of chukker two it was 3 to 2 and at the midway it was 5 to 4. Lucchese was still in the hunt, but after a brief rest for Gonzalo Pieres, who is like Pop, but does not go left, is the master of how it can be done. Everybody is better if he is boss and they are. Last year I thought, well I do not see Gonzalo Pieres 1 here this year, no doubt he is so good. If the handicaps were right he made Gonzalo del Torre 3 goals better than he is rated. Gonzalo Pieres is 10 and the other two players here are rated 9. So either everyone else is less than their rating or he is 10. Gonzalo Pieres is rated 10 everywhere else on the planet. That makes you wonder, but if Gonzalo del Torre is 3-goals and at 3 DW, MW, ST and AM, AB are 4-goals and playing very well, something is wrong. Anyway its over and they are that good. Audi won the 4th by 3 and the 5th by 2. It’s “adios amigos” for Lucchese, who played well.
In game 2 of the semis it was Zacara vs. Grant’s Farm. (Jeff Hall (((JH)) I say this with a smile ). I felt Zacara should beat this team everyday. Zacara has superior horses team-wise and experience “not so.” I have been with JH on several teams and he is always dangerous. If he is smiling he is hostile to opponents. If he is mad it’s bad for JH. He never lost his smile today as he totally kicked the high-goaler on Zacara’s butt. He had help as Andy Busch played like it was ‘98 and young gun Cachi never said bye. Frederick Mannix, Jr. was too hot to handle. I still think Lyndon Lea and Santi Torres played very well. JB never quit, but never did what he does . . . go to goal. With 17 seconds left in the 5th, it was Grant’s Farm taking the lead. That was like a “Red Bull” to JH. He went crazy and closed the deal ASAP with 3 minutes to go. It was so long 2008 for Zacara. It will be very important day for AUDI come Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. We will give our opinion later.
In the subsidiary it was Long Beach over Piocho and ERG falling to Grand Champion. They will meet come Saturday at the party for the 2nd Cup. I really do not hate G’s. It was just that they KICKED MY BUTT. WELL DONE Gonzalo Pieres, Ganzi by Mark, Gonzalo as del Torre and Grant’s Farm. Why the heck would I like a G tonight? I do not like Gin either.