Coca Cola and Park Place qualified to the final of the USPA Gold Cup, the second tournament of The Gauntlet of Polo, following the semifinals that took place on Wednesday March 19, at the National National Polo Center, in Wellington, Florida, United States. Coca Cola and Park Place earned their tickets to the championship game, following their wins against Brookshire and La Dolfina Catamount, respectively.
In the first contest, Coca Cola were victorious 11-10 over Brookshire, in a hard fought match, that saw Brookshire leading until half time. Gillian Johnston’s team took off in the fourth chukka, when they managed to tie at 7-all, and outscored Brookshire 3-2 in the fifth, to earn a 10-9 lead with only one chukka remaining. And it was a hotter than hell last chukka, with both teams presenting battle; at the end of the day, the last chukka ended tied 1-1, but that meant the 11-10 victory for Coca Cola and the first ticket to the final. It’s worth to notice that this is the second consecutive final of The Gauntlet Of Polo for Coca Cola – they already played the decisive game of the CV Whitney Cup, and lost to La Dolfina Tamera.
Up next, and in another hard fought match, Park Place defeated La Dolfina Catamount 12-11. The latter had a strong start, outscoring Park Place 4-1 in the first chukka, but Park Place bounced back until they managed to tie at 6-all by half time. Andrey Borodin’s foursome took the lead in the fourth chukka (8-7), but La Dolfina Catamount had another ideas in mind; they presented battle and tied at 10-all, with only one chukka left. But luck was finally on Park Place’s side – they outscored La Dolfina Catamount 2-1 in the last episode, which subsequently earned them the 12-11 win and the second spot in the championship game.
Coca Cola and Park Place will go head-to-head for the USPA Gold Cup on Sunday March 23, at 4pm (Palm Beach time).
The USPA Gold Cup was established in 1974, and has been played at many different states and clubs, such as Oak Brook Polo Club, in Illinois, Milwaukee PC, in Winconsin, Greenwich Polo Club, in Greenwich, New Bridge Polo Club, among others, and was relocated in Florida, in 1979, at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. Some great teams took home the title more than once, including Valiente (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018), Audi (2011, 2015), Crab Orchard (2007, 2010) and Scone (2021, 2023). White Birch holds the all-time record wins with 12 titles spanning three decades.
The Gauntlet of Polo will come to an end on April 20, with the much anticipated championship match of the US Open.
USPA Gold Cup – Teams & Fixture
THE GAUNTLET OF POLO 2025 – TEAMS
BTA: Ignacio Viana 7, Kelly Beal 0, Steve Kruger 5, Tomás Panelo 10. Total: 22.
Brookshire: Camilo Castagnola 10, Toly Ulloa 7, Scott Wood 0, Carlos Saravi 5. Total: 22.
Catamount: Jesse Bray 7, Poroto Cambiaso 10, Rufino Merlos 5, Scott Devon 0. Total: 22.
Clearwater: Chip Campbell 1 **, Camp Campbell 2*, Gerónimo Obregón* 5, Joaquín Panelo 6 **, Paquito de Narvaez 7, Raúl Colombres 7. Total: 22-
*Will play the CV Whitney Cup //**Will play the USPA Gold Cup y el US Open
Coca Cola: Gillian Johnston 0, Julián de Lusarreta 7, Lorenzo Chavanne 6, Polito Pieres 9. Total: 22.
Global Port: Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 10, Santos Merlos 6, Lucas Díaz Alberdi 6, Michael Romero 0. Total: 22.
La Fe: Francisco Elizalde 9, Kristos Magrini 6, Louis Devaleix 1, Robi Bilbao 5. Total: 21.
Park Place: Andrey Borodin 0, Hilario Ulloa 10, Peke Gonzalez 7, Louis Hine 5. Total: 22.
Pilot: Cody Ellis 5, Curtis Pilot 0, Facundo Pieres 9, Matías Torres Zavaleta 8. Total: 22.
Tamera: Adolfo Cambiaso 10, Alejandro Poma 1, Diego Cavanagh 7, TBA 4. Total: 22.
The Dutta Corp: Iñaki Laprida 7, Nicolás Díaz Alberdi 4, Timmy Dutta 4, Tomás García del Río 7. Total: 22.
2025 THE GAUNTLET OF POLO – CALENDAR
CV WHITNEY CUP – Winners: La Dolfina Tamera
February 8-23
USPA GOLD CUP
February 27-March 23
US OPEN
March 24-April 20
Cover photo by Agustina Fonda.