The United States Polo Association (USPA) hosted an exclusive players’ draw party on Thursday, February 7, 2019, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Florida, for players and team owners competing in the inaugural GAUNTLET OF POLO. The GAUNTLET is the sport’s newest and most challenging tournament series with an unprecedented 16 teams across three tournaments and a potential $1,000,000 purse. The official draw determined the playing order for the first tournament, the C.V. Whitney Cup, which begins next Wednesday, February 13 at IPC. Anticipation continues to build in advance of the tournament start date, and the GAUNTLET is guaranteed to include the premier sporting and social events of this season.

 

High-level executives, including Robert Puetz (CEO of USPA), Chip Campbell, (Chairman of USPA, Gauntlet player and Cessna team owner) and Mark Bellissimo, CEO and Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners, spoke about the significance of the GAUNTLET in advance of the official draw, conducted by Jimmy Newman, Director of Polo Operations.

 

During every match starting on February 13, spectators will have the opportunity to witness some the world’s best polo players and their exceptional equine athletes battle head to head on the esteemed U.S. Polo Assn. Field 1 at IPC. The GAUNTLET promises to be the most incredible display of athleticism in U.S. polo history as the teams compete for a record-breaking $1M purse.

 

TEAMS:

Aspen: Stewart Armstrong 3, Tomas Schwenke 2, Lucas James 7, Polito Pieres 10.

Pilot: Matias Gonzalez 3, Gonzalito Pieres 9, Facundo Pieres 10, Curtis Pilot A.

Equuleus: Joe DiMenna A, Iñaki Laprida 7, Magoo Laprida 8, Mariano Gonzalez 7.

Old Hickory Bourbon: Will Johnston 2, Jason Crowder 6, Miguel Novillo Astrada 9, Stevie Orthwein 4.

Stable Door Polo: Henry Porter 3, Santino Magrini 4, Victorino Ruiz 6, Santiago Toccalino 8.

Daily Racing Form: Jared Zenni 6, Geronimo Obregon 4, Santiago Cernadas 6, Agustin Obregon 6.

La Indiana: Michael Bickford 2, Facundo Obregon 6, Jeff Hall 7, Tomas Garcia del Rio 7.

Santa Clara: Nico Escobar 3, Nino Obregon 6, Cubi Toccalino 8, Luis Escobar 5.

Cessna Polo Team: Chip Campbell 2, Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario 7, Felipe Marquez 6, Felipe Viana 6.

Postage Stamp Farm: Annabelle Gundlach A, Lerín Zubiaurre 8, Mariano Aguerre 8, Joaquin Panelo 6.

SD Farms: Sayyu Dantata 2, Peco Polledo 6, Tito Ruiz Guiñazu 8, Jesse Bray 6.

Tonkawa: Jeff Hildebrand A, Tincho Merlos 8, Sapo Caset 10, Sterling Giannico 4.

Las Monjitas: Camilo Bautista A, Francisco Elizalde 8, Matt Coppola 4, Hilario Ulloa 10.

Iconica: Maureen Brennan 1, Peke Gonzalez 5, Sebastian Merlos 9, Matias Magrini 7.

Coca-Cola: Gillian Johnston 2, Wesley Finlayson 4, Julian de Lusarreta 8, Nacho Novillo Astrada 8.

Park Place: Andrey Borodin A, Juan Britos 8, Nico Pieres 9, Tommy Collingwood 5.

 

FULL FIXTURE:

TOP:

WEDNESDAY:

10am: La Indiana vs Santa Clara

4pm: Equuleus vs Old Hickory Bourbon

THURSDAY:

10am: Stable Door Polo vs Daily Racing Form

12pm: Aspen vs Pilot

 

BOTTOM:

WEDNESDAY:

12pm: Las Monjitas vs Iconica

2pm: Cessna Polo Team vs Postage Stamp Farm

THURSDAY:

2pm: Coca-Cola vs Park Place

4pm: SD Farms vs Tonkawa

 

Single elimination matches. Expected kickoff: Wednesday 13th, schedule TBC. Winners will qualify for CV Whitney Cup quarterfinals. Losers will continue playing for the Iglehart Cup (Top) or Glenn Hart Cup (Bottom).

 

GALERÍAS DE FOTOS: