On Sunday April 23, the 2023 season in Palm Beach will come to a close with the much anticipated final of the US Open Polo Championship, that will see Valiente and Park Place going head-to-head to capture the most coveted trophy in the United States, in the match that will be payed USPA-owned National Polo Center Wellington for the first time ever. It is expected a hard fought, close contest between two of the most powerful polo organisations worldwide.
With regards to Valiente, 2023 marked the debut of Bob Jornayvaz’s Colorado-based organisation in The Gauntlet of Polo, since the inception of The Gauntlet of Polo, in 2019. And they did pretty well, indeed. Jornayvaz, who hired the one and only Adolfo Cambiaso and two young and talented players, Peke Gonzalez and Lucas Criado Jr., have already claimed the first tournament of the series, the CV Whitney Cup. They lost to Pilot in the quarter finals of the USPA Gold Cup, but they had a spectacular comeback in an overwhelming US Open, by winning all the games they played. In addtion, Valiente has already lifted the silver trophy twice, in 2015 and 2017, when the US Open was played at 26 goals.
On a personal basis, Valiente’s flagship man, Adolfo Cambiaso, has won the US Open no less than nine times – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017 y 2021, a mark he shares with the unforgettable and legendary Carlos Gracida, who also claimed the most significant tournament of the US nine times. In 2021, Adolfo won the US Open playing for Scone, with his son Poroto and his current team mate in Valiente, Peke Gonzalez. Today, Poroto remained in Scone, who lost to Valiente in the quarter finals, following a memorable clash between father and son as well as two organisations close to the Cambiaso family.
It is worth noting that, at the time this article was published, it was still unclear whether Luquitas Criado would be able to play the the final. As many remember, Luquitas had a fall in the semifinal against Pilot, and despite there were no consequences at all for the young player and he remains in very good health, it’s not been yet confirmed whether he will play or not.
Meanwhile, Andrey Borodin’s Park Place, who recruited Hilario Ulloa, Juan Britos and Jason Wates, will aim to win the US Open for the first time; like Valiente, they are undefeated. Thoroghout their participation in The Gauntlet of Polo, they won the opening tournament of the series, the CV Whitney Cup, twice (2021 and 2022, in both were victorious over Scone 14-11 and 11-10, respectively), while in 2021 they were runner up of the US Open, when they lost to Scone by a narrow 14-13. In addition, it could be said that this final is a sort of a rematch for Andrey and his boys, since Valiente defeated Park Place in the semifinals of the last CV Whitney Cup, on February 22.
Hilario Ulloa, Park Place’s key man, is a three-times winner of the US Open (2010, 2014 and 2018), in the days the tournament was played at 26 goals. For Juan Britos and Jason Dates could be their first one.
The first ever Gauntlet of Polo at the National Polo Center will see a perfect close. Valiente vs. Park Place, two of the most powerful polo organisations in the world will clash on Sunday April 23, at 3pm, in order to put the ice on the cake to a remarkable 2023 season in Palm Beach.
US OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL – SUNDAY APRIL 23
VALIENTE vs. PARK PLACE
Valiente: Bob Jornayvaz 0, Peke Gonzalez 6, Lucas Criado Jr. 6*, Adolfo Cambiaso 10. Total: 22.
*By the time this article was published, it has not yet been decided whether Lucas would be able to play ot not. momento de la
Park Place: Andrey Borodin 0, Juan Britos 9, Hilario Ulloa 10, Jason Wates, 3. Total: 22.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
VALIENTE
16-12 vs. Palm Beach Equine
11-10 vs. Tamera
11-7 vs. Dutta Corp Show+
11-9 vs. Scone (quarter finals)
11-9 vs. Pilot (semifinals)
PARK PLACE
16-8 vs. Two Trees by Jefferies
11-8 vs. Aspen
14-9 vs. La Elina (quarter finals)
10-8 vs. MAG (semifinals)