Following a close contest, Casablanca narrowly defeated Dead End 14-13 and claimed the Palm Beach Open, in the final that was held at Grand Champions Polo Club, on Sunday March 26. This is the second title for Casablanca within the World Polo League Series, after a thrilling success against Richard Mille, in the opening competition, the All Star Challenge.

Despite it was a very hard fought final, Casablanca had taken an impressive 12-7 lead ; but Dead End, who made their debut in this level of play, managed to make a remarkable comeback and tied at 12-all in the fifth chukka. Despite Barto Castagnola produced six goals and was named MVP, it was Gonzalito Pieres who scored the winning goal for Casablanca, halfway in a tough last chukka.

The next tournament of the series, The Triple Crown of Polo, is due to begin after the Tommy Hitchcock Memorial, set to be played on April 2.

PALM BEACH OPEN – FINAL – SUNDAY MARCH 26

CASABLANCA 14-13 DEAD END

Casablanca: Grant Ganzi 3, Jesse Bray 7, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 10, Tomás Pieres 6. Total: 26.

Dead End: Evan White Jr. 1, Pedro Fallabella 7, Facundo Cruz Llosa 7, Raúl Colombres 8*. Total: 23.

*Subbed in for Cristian Laprida, 8.

Score Casablanca: 4-4, 8-5, 12-7, 12-9, 12-12, 14-13.

Umpires: Esteban Ferrari & Gastón Dorignac.                 Third man: Steve Lane.

MVP: Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.

Best Polo Argentino Bred, awarded by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.: Chalo Niña Loly, ridden by Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.

BPP American Polo Horse Association: Girl Power, ridden by Grant Ganzi.

BPP World Polo League: Incari Uvita, ridden by Pedro Falabella.