Los Amigos Red Knocks Off Tamera To Win Emma Challenge Cup; Santi Toccalino Sweeps MVP, BPP Honors
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 29, 2024---In a thrilling finish, Los Amigos Red won the Emma Challenge Cup on Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium Field.
By Sharon Robb
Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Santi Toccalino, 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Juan Bollini, 3) defeated tournament favorite Tamera (Ale Poma, 1, Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 5, Nic Roldan, 8), 8-7, in front of a good crowd.
It was the second summer tournament victory for the Los Amigos organization.
Argentine Santi Toccalino, making his Aspen Valley Polo Club debut, swept the Most Valuable Player and Best Playing Pony honors.
With two minutes left in the game, Toccalino, with Roldan on his hip, scored the winning goal and finished with a game-high five goals.
Valentine, a 13-year-old chestnut mare, played by Toccalino and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was AVPC Best Playing Pony.
Candy Crush, an 8-year-old bay mare played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada and owned and bred by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony.
The wild game had ten lead changes. After five lead changes in the first half, Tamera took a 4-2 after Poma scored to finish the chukker.
Los Amigos Red started turning it around in the fourth chukker with three unanswered goals all by Toccalino for a 5-4 lead going into the fifth chukker.
Los Amigos Red took advantage of Tamera's unforced errors in the fifth chukker. A penalty one on Roldan's scoring attempt tied the game at 5-5 with 3 minutes left. Back-to-back goals by Novillo Astrada gave Los Amigos Red its biggest lead, 7-5, of the game headed into the final chukker.
Both teams had their chances to win in the final chukker. Roldan hit one of his long balls for a 145-yard goal to trail, 7-6. Ganzi then converted a clutch 40-yard penalty to tie the game. Toccalino came up with the game-winner. Tamera had one final shot at goal but went wide.
In addition to Toccalino's five goals, Alejandro Novillo Astrada had two and Alejandra Foster added one. Roldan led Tamera with four goals including a 145-yarder, Ale Poma had two goals and Grant Ganzi added one.
In the Just For The Love Of It subsidiary, Tonkawa (Silver Novillo Astrada/Inda Pieres, Jimmy Seward, Martin Jauregui, Nacho Novillo Astrada) won the three-team round robin. Los Amigos Blue, (Paul Foster, Santos Bollini, Gonzalito Pieres, Tomacho Pieres) was second and Santa Rita, (Fran Spinacci, Sugar Erskine, Pablo Spinacci, Jason Crowder) was third.
The AVPC Best Playing Pony was chestnut mare Ensenada La Chela, played by Pablo Spinacci and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm.
In Friday's opening qualifying action, Tamera defeated Los Amigos Red, 10-6, to advance into the final and take on the favorite's role. Tamera had leads of 5-0 and 8-1 in the first four chukkers.
In the three-team round robin, Los Amigos Red defeated Tonkawa, 4-2, to clinch a spot in the final.
On Saturday, in the Just For The Fun Of It, players got the opportunity to play in the outdoor arena for the first time in a three-team, six-chukker round robin. Aspen Valley Polo Club (Inda Pieres, Phil Gutman, Gonzalito Pieres) won 6-3 over Santa Rita (Stephanie Lewis, Daren Tamplin, Juan Bollini).
Last season in the Emma Challenge Cup final, Casablanca won its first tournament of the summer season. Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras 5, Nic Roldan, 8, Stewart Armstrong, 2) won the five-team tournament with an impressive 9-5 victory over Los Amigos (Melissa Ganzi, Martin Jauregui, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 7, Juan Boliini, 3). Roldan was MVP.
So far the season-opening tournaments have been won by:
Santa Rita (Haley Schaufeld, Grant Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Juan Bollini) in the Independence Cup.
Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Martin Jauregui, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) in the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup.
Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Santos Bollini, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) in the Craig Sakin Memorial
Los Amigos Red (Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras, Paul Foster, Grant Ganzi) in the Basalt Handicap.
