Seminole Casino Coconut Creek Wins World Polo League All-Star Challenge Sunday Opener; Lucas James MVP; Alegria Plays Casablanca Tuesday

February 11
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WELLINGTON, Fl., February 10, 2020---On a perfect polo day that featured sky divers, dancing girls and great polo, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek won its season opener in the World Polo League All-Star Challenge.

Dundas Polo and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek players enjoy post-game ceremonies.

By Sharon Robb

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In front of a packed house during the Sunday featured afternoon game, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Joaquin Avendano 2, Nic Roldan 8, Lucas James 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8) defeated Dundas Polo (Sarah Siegel-Magness 0, Gringo Colombres 8, Sebastian Merlos 8, Jejo Taranco 8), 9-7, Sunday at the debut of Grand Champions Polo Club's CoCo Cabana Stadium.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada of Seminole Casino takes off with Jejo Taranco of

Dundas Polo in pursuit.

It was the third game of a WPL tripleheader on Day 3 of the All Star Challenge, the first of four WPL tournaments of the second season of the 26-goal league.

WPL play continues Tuesday when Alegria takes on Casablanca at 11 a.m. at Jan Pamela.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada of Seminole Casino hits a neck shot with Jejo Taranco of Dundas Polo defending.

James was named Most Valuable Player. Dolfina Cuartetera, bred by polo great Adolfo Cambiaso and played by Magness-Siegel in the first chukker, was Best Playing Pony. Astrada was awarded best goal (half-swing, long neck shot off broken play) with 3:45 left in the second chukker.

Trailing after the first two chukkers, Seminole Casino took a 6-5 halftime lead and never trailed in the second half, maintaining the tempo and shutting Dundas Polo out in the fourth and fifth chukkers while outscoring them, 3-2.

Lucas James of Seminole Casino and Gringo Colombres of Dundas Polo look to

cross mallets as James goes to hit.

"That was a fun way to start," Roldan said. "It was great on Opening Day to win for Seminole Casino. It's their first year here as a sponsor and we hope they are going to stay for the long run. All-in-all a win-win for everyone.

"It was our first game and they already had a game under their belt which is always tough. To be honest, the horses went great and our team was really fun."

Seminole Casino teammates Nic Roldan and Lucas James working together.

Roldan said James was a perfect choice for Most Valuable Player.

"That was the first time I played with Lucas and he is an amazing player," Roldan said.

The one-two passing combination of Astrada and Roldan played a key role in Seminole Casino's victory.

Sebastian Merlos of Dundas Polo tries to ride off Joaquin Avendano of Seminole Casino as teammate Jejo Taranca hits downfield.

"It was a very good win, the first Sunday game of the tournament and it was the first win for our main sponsor," Astrada said. "It's nice to win for them.

"I have played with Nic many times before," Astrada said. "I have played with Lucas for three years. I know both of them. They didn't know each other but it didn't look like a problem for them. In the end when we had a four-goal lead we just decided to have patience, not foul and wait for the opportunity to attack."

Nic Roldan of Seminole Casino hits a neck shot past Sebastian Merlos of Dundas Polo.

Nineteen-year-old Joaquin Avendano filled in for patron Melissa Ganzi in the Seminole Casino lineup.

"Playing here is amazing," Avendano said. "I want to thank Melissa Ganzi and Grand Champions. The field was amazing. I'm so happy we won. My teammates were great. It was an amazing game with a good outcome."

Jejo Taranco of Dundas Polo goes to back a shot with Lucas James of

Seminole Casino defending.

Astrada scored a game-high four goals for Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. Roldan had three and James added one. Taranco led Dundas Polo for three goals and Merlos had one.

The day's festivities included the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new CoCo Cabana Stadium with Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig doing the honors; opera singer Carlos De Antonis singing a stirring rendition of the National Anthem while three members of Team Fastrax professional skydiving team landed at midfield with American flags; popular local singer Tom Blake entertaining the post-awards crowd and Josh Cohen of ESPN West Palm and former NFL player and University of Florida alum Jevon Kearse presented awards and were great with fans. Kearse made the day of Alba Figueras, youngest daughter of Nacho and Delfina Figueras, when he bought her handmade bracelets.

Joaquin Avendano of Seminole Casino and Gringo Colombres of Dundas Polo

battle for the ball.

In other Sunday WPL games:

SD Farms 12, Sebucan 2

SD Farms (Sayyu Dantata 2, Santi Torres 7, Guillermo Terrera 8, Juan Martin Zubia 8) was just too well-balanced for first-year team Sebucan (Pablo Pulido 2, Corcho Zavaleta 7, Tincho Merlos 8, Nacho Novillo Astrada 8). The foursome has been playing and practicing together for more than two years and the chemistry was evident from the opening chukker.

Sayyu Dantata of SD Farms attempts to hook Tincho Merlos of Sebucan.

Santi Torres took up where he left off in WPL's inaugural season as one of the top players leading SD Farms with a game-high six goals. Zubia added five goals and Dantata had one.

Merlos scored in the third chukker and Sebucan patron Pablo Pulido scored his first WPL goal in the fifth chukker.

Valiente 13, Aspen Valley 9

Each time the father-son combination of Adolfo and Poroto play together, fans are appreciative of watching history in the making and a young son following in his famous father's footsteps.

Valiente teammates Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso working together with Nacho Figueras of Aspen Valley defending.

Valiente (Salvador Lockey 2, Poroto Cambiaso 4, Diego Cavanagh 9, Adolfo Cambiaso 10), down 2-0 on Aspen Valley's (Pablo Spinacci 6, Nacho Figueras 6, Facu Llorente 7, Juan Bollini 5) handicap, quickly jumped into the lead, 5-3 in the second chukker and 9-3 at halftime after a 4-0 third chukker. Valiente led 10-4 and 12-5 before Aspen Valley got offensive and scored four goals in the final chukker.

Cavanagh scored a game-high five goals, Poroto Cambiaso had four goals, Adolfo Cambiaso added three goals and Lockey had one. Figueras led Aspen Valley with four goals, Spinacci had two and Llorente had one.

Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig does the honors during the ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony at the debut of Grand Champions Polo Club's CoCo Cabana Stadium.

In early week WPL polo action, Dundas Polo opened with a 10-7 win over J5 La Dolfina Breeding and Alegria defeated Richard Mille, 12-10.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is the hospitality sponsor for the World Polo League. Open 24/7, 365 days a year, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek presents a fully integrated, energized, stylish and upscale local's casino experience, world-class dining, including its award-winning steakhouse, NYY Steak and live entertainment.

Did somebody say dessert? Just some of the food served in the Coco Cabana's VIP section by hospitality sponsor Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.

Tickets, ranging from $15 to $250, for the Sunday featured WPL games at 4 p.m. at Grand Champions Polo Club are on sale now at www.worldpolo.org.

Ticket price breakdown for the new CoCo Cabana Stadium is:

Members of the Team Fastrax professional sky diving team presenting the flag during

the National Anthem.

VIP $250, Upper Level (rain or shine, no refunds), includes VIP parking access, exclusive luxury-style bar and lounge seating, gourmet light dinner buffet, exclusive chef station, VIP Open bar (excluding champagne and bottle service) and VIP swag bags.

VIP $100, Lower Level (rain or shine, no refunds), includes VIP parking access, exclusive luxury-style bar and lounge seating, gourmet light bites and Worth Avenue retailer experience.

Valet Parking $15, select quality valet parking and general admission.

Popular local singer Tom Blake doing what he does best, entertaining the crowd with great music after the awards ceremony.

Co-founded by Grand Champions owner and president Melissa Ganzi and Valiente Polo Farm owner Bob Jornayvaz, the successful World Polo League is the only 26-goal polo in the world outside of Argentina. The WPL is preserving the highest level of polo and its rich, hallowed tradition in the U.S.

The WPL, with 11 tournament-quality fields to play on, features the Feb. 6-16 All-Star Challenge, Feb. 19-March 1 Founders Cup, March 4-22 Palm Beach Open and March 28-April 18 Triple Crown of Polo.

VIP spectators enjoying the view from the new CoCo Cabana.

The WPL schedule also features the unique April 6-12 U.S. National Mixed Doubles Championship, created by Jornayvaz. It pairs men and women players.

The WPL is open to teams that wish to compete in one or more of the tournaments. Games are offered on the flat (Open) and on Handicap.

The World Polo League attracts a large international field of players from all corners of the world including Australia, Chile, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Uruguay, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Nigeria and England.

Awards table for the World Polo League's first Sunday featured game.

Photos by ChukkerTV

Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in five self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and three polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation including one field for stick-and-ball with plans to build more polo fields in the future.

For more information and to watch the games go to www.worldpolo.org for a complete library of WPL first-season games.

2020 WORLD POLO LEAGUE SCHEDULE

All Star Challenge Feb. 6-16

Tuesday 2/11 11 a.m. Casablanca vs Alegria at Jan Pamela Field 2

Thursday 2/13 11 a.m. Semifinal

Seminole Casino vs SD Farms at SD Farms

Friday 2/14 4 p.m. Semifinal

Valiente vs Winner Casablanca/Alegria. at Valiente Field 1

Sunday 2/16 All Start Challenge Final at GCPC Field 2

Santa Rita Semifinals:

Friday 2/14 10:30 a.m. Sebucan vs J5 La Dolfina at Valiente Field 2

Friday 2/14 1 p.m. Richard Mille vs Aspen Valley at Jan Pamela Field 3

Sunday 2/16 Santa Rita Final

Feb. 19-Mar. 1, Founder's Cup

Mar. 4-22, Palm Beach Open

Mar. 28-Apr. 18, Triple Crown of Polo

Apr. 6-12, U.S. National Mixed Doubles Polo Championship

Games at Grand Champions Polo Club, Valiente Polo Farm and other local fields, call our hotline to receive daily game and field information.

561-644-5050

World Polo League Tickets


	Jan-Eric Franck "The Voice of Polo"

Chukker TV is live streaming the entire World Polo League season. ChukkerTV, featuring cutting-edge technology, was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club. For advertising opportunities please contact Mike Ferreira at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Watch Games Live

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.

DIRECTOR OF POLO: Juan Olivera, 561-644-5050, juan.olivera@gcpolo.com; hotline 561-644-5050.

INFORMATION: For spectators, there are great field side views for tournament action and also the Grand Champions Polo Club Boutique. The club is home base for pro teams Audi and Flexjet. Everyone is welcome to watch every level of polo in a relaxed atmosphere with food and refreshments during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events. Admission is free except for some special events.

Grand Champions Polo Club, 13444 Southfields Road, Wellington, FL 33414

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