By Alex Webbe
If you had any preconceptions about the about the 2008 Pacific Coast Open, forget them. After the third round of action the finals rematch that seemed to be setting up between defending champion Zacara and Audi got sidetracked. A patchwork ERG team upset the powerful Zacara foursome 8-7. Going into the game Zacara had been averaging 16 goals a game while surrendering a miserly 8.5 goals, but it was ERG’s turn to teach defensive tactics. Trailing at halftime ERG made some corrections and turned the game around. Nick Roldan scored three goals from the field in the final chukker for the win, and knocking Zacara from the unbeaten ranks.
“We had a plan and we stuck to it,” said Roldan. “We put Agustin Molinas on Ruki (Australian standout Ruki Baillieu) full time in the second half and he took him out of the game.”
Roldan admitted that the horses were a little heavy but felt good about their chances on Sunday When ERG (2-1) meets Audi (3-0). Zacara (2-1) will try to collect itself against Grand Champions/Klentner Ranch (0-3).
Grant’s Farm suffered a second round loss to a rejuvenated ERG team and took it out on Grand Champions/Klentner Ranch in a 21-7 romp. Improving its record to 2-1, Grants Farm will hope to improve its record at the expense of winless Long Beach (0-3). Carrying an 0-3 record, the GC/KR team came into the PCO with a team handicap of only 16 goals. Outclassed on paper, GC/KR lost its first match by a mere three goals (played on the flat, a four goal handicap would have given GC/KR the win), while a second game was lost by three goals. Winless in its efforts, Melissa Ganzi’s Grand Champions team of Mike Azzaro (9), Juan Bollini (6) and Justin Klentner (1) served notice to Audi (3-0) and Lucchese (3-0) they weren’t there for the scenery.
Long Beach was looking to get into the win column when they faced John Muse’s questionable Lucchese team. Lucchese’s 2-0 record came at the expense of ERG and Grand Champions/Klentner Ranch, and the Texas team averaged 15 goals per game, but they also were giving up an average of 13 goal per game.
Long Beach came out strong and quickly ran up a 9-5 halftime lead. Lucchese scrapped its way back into the game, and by the end of the fourth chukker had a handle on the game. The fifth chukker belonged to the inimitable Carlos Gracida as he scored four goals on his 5-year-old gray mare, Legend. Gracida orchestrated the teamwork, and Andres Weisz put the game on ice with the winning goal in the tailing seconds of the final chukker. Long Beach (0-3) lost an opportunity and Lucchese remained undefeated (3-0).
The final game of the day pitted an undefeated Audi team against a struggling Piocho Ranch quartet. Again it was the teamwork of the Audi team that set the pace for the day. Three goals from Gonzalo Del Tour allowed Audi to leave the field at the end of the first half in a 7-7 tie over a determined Piocho effort, but there was another half to be played. Gonzalito Pieres took over the game in the fourth period, scoring three goals from the field, and Audi (3-0) cruised to a comfortable 14-10 win over hapless Piocho Ranch (0-3).
The fact that there are three winless teams (Long Beach, Piocho Ranch, Grand Champions/Klentner Ranch) is shocking, as only Audi and Lucchese remain undefeated. Zacara (2-1) is not ready to give up while both ERG and Grants Farm have single losses against two wins.
Sunday’s showdown will set the playoffs with the only certainty being that the three winless teams are headed for the consolation round.
One thing Santa Barbara’s crew has to be pleased with is the lack of contention over the officiating. Always a target for disgruntled players, the umpires have been turning in top- level performances, and players and fans have voiced their approval.
What will happen in Sunday’s matches is anybody’s guess, but the horses are in top form and nobody’s slowing down.