Grant’s Farm /Windsor Capital routs Tri-Tech for Polo Skins
By DIANE HENSLEY
INDIO-–Mariano Fassetta delivered the final blow against Tri-Tech Sunday in sudden death overtime, locking up the very last dollar of the $24,000 up for grabs for Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital in polo’s Skins Game. Fassetta made the goals when it counted in the high-stakes $4,000 per chukker match—five in all.
Windsor Capital/Grant’s Farm Win All 7 Chukkers of the Barbara Sinatra Skins Finals. From left to right: Andy Busch, Nick Morrison, Mariano Fassetta, Jason Crowder, Pat Nesbitt and Barbara Sinatra.
Jason Crowder punched through the pressure to win Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital the opening payment, drilling a worm-burning shot through the posts on a penalty two conversion. Tie scores in the second and third led to Fassetta’s back-to-back goals for $12,000. He fired a 60-yard high-flyer through the posts to convert a penalty four and picked a dead ball out of the pack and broke away for a 75-yard offside winner with 1:39 left on the clock.
A tie in the fifth and no score in the sixth left $8,000 on the table for the unsponsored overtime chukker. Adding to the drama, officials doubled the width of the goal posts to 48 ft. But an early mistake by Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital patron Pat Nesbitt handed Tri-Tech a golden opportunity within the first 28 seconds. Tri-Tech’s Gaston Von Wernich positioned and wound up for a penalty five shot 100 yards from goal. Opting for the tap-away to teammate Marcos Villanueve, Villanueve, under heavy hazing from Crowder, had no choice but to release early. His shot went wide.
Crowder got the knock in and sent the ball to midfield, where Fassetta was waiting with time to kill. Fassetta turned to receive, caught the ball on the fly and hit two offside slammers cross-field toward goal. Giving away the reins, he easily maintained at least a length in front of a trailing Von Wernich, who could do nothing but watch the ball fly through the uprights.
“It was a really fun match today, and everyone played well,” Fassetta said. He credited his last goal to the widened posts. “It made it that much easier. But the team played well and we had a nice running game.”
Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital patron Andy Busch donated the first $4,000 back to the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center.
“Thank you for the opportunity to play and for bringing us here,” Busch told the crowd at the awards presentation. “I’d like to donate this check on behalf of our team to Barbara’s Center for all the great causes they are dedicated to.”
Tri-Tech joined Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital on the dais for photos after the match. Villanueve stepped up to spray the team with the honorary champagne.
Tri-Tech’s Chris Maloney took the loss in stride.
“We needed a little more luck today. The game could have gone either way.”
The showmanship by all eight players provided the kind of entertainment worth every dime for the spectators. And, they got their chance to run for the money at a half-time dash for cash sponsored by Fantasy Springs Casino. Dozens of children and adults scrambled onto the field to hunt down a $100 chip and a $1 chip. Despite warnings about the rule to pick up just one of the hundreds of envelopes strewn on the field, participants rushed back to the sidelines to check their stash of two or three. Further donations were not forthcoming.
Proceeds from the 15th annual Barbara Sinatra Skins Polo Game at Eldorado Club benefited the Barbara Sinatra’s Children’s Foundation.
Chukker-by-Chukker Glance
Grant’s Farm /Windsor Capital 1, Tri-Tech 0. $4,000, Ford Trucks
Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital 2, Tri-Tech 2. rollover, Fantasy Springs
Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital 1, Tri-Tech 1, rollover, Fantasy Springs
Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital 2, Tri-Tech 0, $12,000 Fantasy Springs/Sullivan’s Steak House
Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital 1, Tri-Tech 1, rollover, Ford Trucks
Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital 0, Tri-Tech 0, rollover, Trione Vineyards
Grant’s Farm/Windsor Capital 1.