Polo in the Pacific Coast Open, and polo Round 2 is over for all but one team. And there at the end of Round 3, it was fun but it was an odd day on and off the field. The weather sucked most of the day — it was very cloudy, not overcast. Just a very ugly day for everyone here in Santa Barbara — anywhere else it would have been welcome because it was cool. The first game was a good one, maybe the best of the day. It was Grant’s Farm/Klentner Ranch vs. Mansour. A no-brainer, you might say. Three pros (and good ones) vs. a two patron team, but its not always the way it seems in polo — its Murphy’s Law in polo, and if it can happen, it will happen. Grant’s Farm/Klentner Ranch have two very good seasoned pros in Mariano Gonzalez and the Ironman Jeff Blake. And do not doubt it, the patrons are steady. Andy Busch has been 5 goals for nearly 10 yrs., sometimes better, sometimes not but in good polo never far away if he is used, so he can do it. Justin Klentner is new and overrated, but he works so hard sometimes to a plus, sometimes not. But he always works and if anyone can say he does not try, they are either blind or dumb because he will never stop working. Good or bad, he will try. He is learning the things he can do and those he cannot, so he will always be of value to a team and he was today as he and Andy Busch did their jobs and Jeff Blake did his damage. And it was an upset of sorts as Mansour, who has lost only one game up to now, have lost 2, and this one is in the Pacific Coast Open, so they go to 1&1, and Grant’s Farm/Klentner Ranch at 2&0. In the 1 PM, it was late getting started but got going soon after and Windsor Cap at times resembled a top team as they blew out Antelope/Long Beach early and then returned to their pre-Pacific Coast Open style of 1&6. But there was enough of a buffer to make it through to their first plus in 3 weeks, and maybe the corner has been turned as they find out soon and face Jimmy Choo on Wed. Sugar is jelling and it could be top news for Windsor Capital. In the 3 PM, it was a massacre as a very good Audi looked odd down 10 to 1 at halftime, which was not a real crowd pleaser, but came back to make it a game. Some drama developed, however, as a Duende player for the 3rd time has struck a player with a mallet and for once been punished lightly for it (but at least punished). It is beyond me how this continues to happen — must there be someone paralyzed by a blow behind the neck for it to stop? The rules clearly state that another player striking a player with a mallet is kicked out ASAP. Well, its been 3 times and so its no accident, and that’s in 3 weeks. Do we pay these people for safety? YOU TELL ME. That was not the reason Duende destroyed Audi, it was much deeper. They were lost from the get-go and outplayed like they were lost, but I do not know why. Ask Melissa.
Up in Petaluma, [the double J’s (Jason Crowder and Joseph Stuart) got back together and gave the home side a hiding as Geri Dardi and Mcpolo/Winters rolled over the locals, despite a home field advantage. And they are now on to Wed. and Round 2 of the Oyster Cup, probably the best party in U.S . POLO and its nothin’ but fun. Further up the road in Calgary, its a H to Z type of game (they leave out the A to G), but they do rule the North, so far as [ZENAS and JR Rooney] have taken the first 2 up there. They are a mixed group, but so tough. You have Captain John at the front door leading by example and scoring goals at #2 its guess what — a Zavaleta — Juan Martin that is. He is like a very quick and bona fide man-to-man player. And closing the door is a Smokin’ Joe (Joe Henderson) and he is smokin’ the other goal like closing the road when fire is near. And in the 10-goal. Its Dyan Pettigrew and the Surfer Diego Cossio, and, oh yes, another Zavaleta — this one is called CLEMENTE — a young gun bred down South and raised to hustle from a Pop that said, “Quit in, oh, maybe 2090, if you want. Otherwise, do not stop until I say so.” Also, he won the 4-goal with Mini Mac (Julian Manix), the son of Big Mac (Fred Manix, Sr. and the brother of Little Mac (Frederick Manix). So, McDonald’s may not know it, but there is a Mac Attack and it comes from Canada, and his name is JULIAN. So after all this weekend, in Santa Barbara its like this:
ANTELOPE/LONG BEACH 0 & 3 NEXT FRIDAY DUENDE
GRANTS FARM/KLENTNER RANCH 2 & 0 NEXT FRIDAY JIMMY CHOO
MANSOUR 1 & 1 NEXT FRIDAY AUDI POLO
AUDI POLO 1 & 1 NEXT FRIDAY MANSOUR
DUENDE 1 & 1 NEXT FRIDAY ANTELOPE/LB
JIMMY CHOO 1 & 0 NEXT WED. WINDSOR
WINDSOR CAPITAL 1 & 1 NEXT WED JIMMY CHOO
If you’re in a party mood, head to Petaluma. There is a major party goin’ onnnnnnnnnnnnnn next weekend.
There will be lots of polo in Santa Barbara, but no drinking, no socializing with members and maybe no one to talk to, as no one is there!!!!
See ya!