Its only 1 week until the end of a century of Spreckels Cup Tournaments. One final is set (14-goal). We had a huge party at ZEN of Del Mar on Saturday night. It was a themed even “Meet the Players of the Spreckels Cup. Zen is a hot spot for dancing and dining. It is the place to go in Del Mar. If you say you are from the polo, they will welcome you with excellent service. Many thanks to all the people of ZEN for welcoming the “Meet the Players Party last night and thank you Mariano Gutierrez for organizing it all.
As hard as it was it was time for polo at 10 am this morning and the fire works were on. It started with the Cowboys and Indians of Rancho Valencia whipping up on Madison Square for the first four chukkers, but the game is six chukkers. When Fast-Etta (Mariano Fassetta) got rolling with lots of help from Saint Nick (Nicolai Galindo), Lady Lisa Bosstick and the Palomino (Jason Crowder), the defending champs roared back and scored 6 goals in 2 chukkers to close the bunkhouse door. They now head to the main event next Sunday afternoon.
In the 6-goal league it was Hidden Creek 2 and 1 getting another as they smoked CNS. CNS falls to 1 and 3. Out of the semis Kelly Maloney is eyeing the Easy Rider (brother Chris Maloney) as she also has her eyes set on the main event next Sunday. Kelly is on her way to the semis undefeated at 4 and 0. Down at field 4 it was bad luck for Marcus Millichap as one of M and M’s young guns, Juan Jo (Juan Jose Gonzalez) did a no, no and failed to execute his emergency dismount properly and broke his collarbone. M and M held on to beat Aspen Oaks and go to 3 and 1 with 1 more game to go. It is, however, a big one as Hidden Creek may be wanting to eat some M and M’s. Just a little ways away it was Honey beating up on Honey, (Alisha Wray vs. Dirk Wray) but it was Lady Honey (Alisha) thumping on Hubby as Princeps beat up on the Bridges-Princeps II team. The Bridges-Princeps II goes to 0 and 4 and Honey Alisha (Princeps) goes to 2 and 2. In a real weird game at 1 pm on the main field we saw Wild Bill Freeman and his team Corleone dominate the first 1/2 as they were up by 4. If it were not for Wild Bill putting out the fire in the 3rd with their only goal of the second 1/2 it was a skunking as Jenny Luttrel and Lance Hughes (son of Mr. Smooth Curt Hughes) fired up Cotterell Farms and they scored 6 and won by 1. Both teams are now 2 and 2.
In the feature match it was a nightmare for Shelley Geiler ,who is really playing well in her 14-goal debut. Her big Stick, Luis Escobar, also failed in his emergency dismount and bought a case of beer. He now has some very tender ribs and a free ride to Scripps Hospital. This all happened in the first chukker. Playa Grande could not find a sub as we failed to insert the sub rule and it would not matter as the other 7-goaler is also very sore, but survived his morning match, but was in no mood for more abuse anyway. They subbed a 4-goaler, Miguel Torres, Jr. who played well but his handicap dropped Playa Grande to a 9-goal team playing against Tritech a strong 14-goal team, who has not lost in 3 weeks. So the 14-goal final is set TRITECH VS MADISON SQUARE. The 6-goal finals will not be determined until Saturday afternoon.
Right now it’s like this . . .
Thursday
Princeps 2 and 2 + 4 vs. Aspen Oaks 2 and 2 @ 0 Marcus+Milichap 3 and 1 +5 vs. Hidden Creek 3 and 1 + 4 CNS POLO 1 and 3 +3 vs. Ohana 4 and 0 + 11 Corleone 2 and 2 + 3 vs. Bridges/Princeps 0 and 4 – 22 Adeptus/Casa Blanca 1 and 3 – 4 vs. Cotterell Farms 2 and 2 – 4
These games will determine the 4 semi finalists and it will be a very busy day for all as only Bridges, CNS and Adeptus are out for sure with any of them in a spoiler position except CNS.
Down south in Argentina it was Gonzalo Pieres returning to a very unusual place, the podium of a high-goal Championship. He had a dream team consisting of himself and his 3 sons who conquered the first Argentine high-goal tournament of 2006. Well done POP!! They did it by thrashing all comers by 4 or more.
Zenas of Calgary lost its last chance to see the main event at the Gold Cup in Aiken, SC
If you are looking for some fun come to San Diego Polo Club this week. It is nothing but polo and parties from Thursday through Sunday night.
See ya. The Polo Report by Steve Crowder.