U.S. OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP

Scone along with two field goals, Tomas Panelo was named Most Valuable Player. Reflecting on the recognition, Panelo commented, “Thank you very much. For me it’s a really great opportunity to play on a team like that. It’s a young team, it’s nice [that] Pelon gave me his string, he’s really well-mounted and Adolfo also gave me some horses. [It’s] a great opportunity, I enjoyed it a lot, and I’m really happy.”

Panelo also commented on how it felt to get the call that he would be substituting for Pelon Stirling. “I knew that the first game was going to be difficult because I was playing the 16 goal, which is a little slower. The first game was hard, the second game I felt a little better and today was a really fun game to play against one of the top three best teams. Honestly, it was just a really fun game to play.” Discussing some of his favorite horses he played, Panelo continued, “I have a few: J5 Arg Marimba, I really like, J5 Arg Cheyenne, she’s really good, Dolfina Cauta—they’re horses that are good for finals!”

Happy to play with Panelo, Ellis discussed how it felt for the two to win together. “Really fun, I played with [Tomas] in Spain last summer, so I know him quite well and I’ve played with him before, and we’ve had some bad luck. So, to win with him today is really cool. Very happy for him and [he’s] a great teammate.”

Equally pleased with Panelo’s performance and addition to the team, Paradice gushed, “[Tomas] is a wonderful person primarily, a great person and a great talent. He fit in with Pelon who’s a great person and a great talent—so [he] fit in like a glove. He just fit in well, and fortunately we had Pelon to coach us along as well. I feel for Pelon, it would’ve been nice to have him play, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.”

Poroto Cambiaso’s first chukker horse and last chukker spare, Cabe Bailarina, was presented Best Playing Pony honors. She is a 10-year-old Argentine chestnut mare owned by La Dolfina (Dolfina Tanguera x Loyal Force). Cambiaso noted, “Cabe Bailarina was bred by our veterinarian Juan Pablo [Quiroga] and owned by my dad and La Dolfina. And I believe she’s been my best horse all season long. She’s very strong and very complete. I think she deserved it.”

In addition to the title, Scone received $50,000 in prize money. This year’s Gauntlet of Polo in partnership with USPA Global Licensing also embraced the spirit of giving with non-profit charities chosen by the finalists receiving a donation. Scone chose to support the Retired Racehorse Project with a $2,500 donation while Pilot contributed $2,500 to Polo for Life.