The penultimate league stage of the USPA Gold Cup was played through Saturday March 8 and Sunday March 9, at the National Polo Center, located in Wellington, Florida, United States. Coca Cola, La Dolfina Tamera and Park Place claimed wins, during the weekend games of the second leg of the prestigious The Gauntlet of Polo.
On Saturday, Coca Cola defeated La Dolfina Catamount 11-8. The clash was very balanced in the first half, but from the fourth chukka onwards, Gillian Johnston’s lineup displayed a remarkable team play, and seized the reins to dominate the scores which at the end of the day, led them to the victory.
On Sunday, La Dolfina Tamera earned a 11-8 win over Globalport; however, the big news of the day was Beltrán Lauhle’s comeback to the saddle to play with Globalport. Beltrán was unable to play due to the injuries he suffered in a painful car crash, in which he also lost his younger brother and a true promise of polo, Beltrán, last January. In the follow-up, Park Place beat BTA 12-10.
According to these results, Coca Cola, Brookshire, La Dolfina/Tamera and Park Place already advanced to the quarter finals, with a 2-0 record each.
The four remaining teams to qualify to the quarter finals of the USPA Gold Cup will be revealed on Wednesday March 12, following the last league contests, yet TBA, according to the last information provided by the United States Polo Association (USPA).
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 quarterfinals of the USPA Gold Cup are due through Saturday March 15 and Sunday March 16; the semifinals are set to be played on Wednesday March 19, and the final will take place on Sunday March 23.
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, Julián de Lusarreta (Coca Cola), by Agustina Fonda