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SD Farms Wins Aspen Valley Cup At Grand Champions; Sayyu Dantata Jr. Most Valuable Player

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SD Farms Wins Aspen Valley Cup At Grand Champions; Sayyu Dantata Jr. Most Valuable Player

WELLINGTON, Fl., February 1, 2020---SD Farms rallied late in the sixth chukker to capture the Aspen Valley Cup Friday at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Aspen Valley Cup 8-Goal champion SD Farms' Hope Arellano, Peco Polledo, Lucas Arellano and Sayyu Dantata Jr.


SD Farms (Hope Arellano, 1, Sayyu Dantata, -1, Peco Polledo, 6, Lucas Arellano, 2) defeated Mashomack (Josephine Hermans, 0, Santos Bollini, 1, Juanse Olivera, 2, Juan Monteverde, 5), 11-10, to win the January 8-Goal league title.

Other January League winners were  Newport defending its title against Beverly Equestrian to win the Limited Edition 12-Goal Series and Bushwood defeating Altair Polo to win the Metropolitan 6-Goal Cup.

Hope Arellano of SD Farms works the ball downfield with a defender on her hip.

Dantata Jr., 18, was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a game-high six goals including four in the final chukker in his debut at Grand Champions.

"I am happy I won," Dantata Jr. said. "I won my debut, that's a good thing.

"I have been riding horses since I was a kid but this is the first year I have been playing polo and I'm starting here," Dantata said. "I love it. The horses make you love them. Every time I see horses I just want to go and spend time with them."

Santos Bollini of Mashomack works the sideboards with Hope Arellano of
 SD Farms defending.

Dantata Jr. is the oldest son of Sayyu Dantata, patron of SD Farms and winner of last year's Palm Beach Open in the inaugural season of the 26-goal World Polo League. SD Farms will return for a second season.

Hippy Chic, a Chestnut mare owned and played by Hope Arellano in the second chukker, was Best Playing Pony.       

Sayyu Dantata Jr. of SD Farms chases after the ball with Santos Bollini of Mashomack defending.

"She came from my dad and it was one of my dad's best horses forever," Arellano said. "Then he gave her to me. I've been playing her and it will be my second winter with her. I love her. She's turned into one of my best horses."

Arellano got the opportunity to play with her brother Lucas, 20, who subbed for Dantata Sr.

Peco Polledo of SD Farms works the ball away from defender Josephine Hermans 
of Mashomack.

"It was so much fun today," Arellano said. "I love playing with my brother. He is my favorite teammate. It was a super fun team. I just went in wanting to do my best and play hard.
It's definitely different playing mixed polo but I love it."

With Mashomack leading 9-8 early in the sixth chukker, Dantata Jr. scored the tying goal with 3:23 left in the game. Arellano then connected on a nice pass with Dantata to give SD Farms its first lead (10-9) since the fourth chukker.

MVP Sayyu Dantata of SD Farms on his way of scoring one of his four goals 
in the sixth chukker.

Dantata scored an insurance run off a breakaway to make it 11-9 with 2:01 left. Bollini scored the final goal with six seconds left.

"I don't know what happened in that last chukker," Dantata said. "I just don't like to lose so I said lets go for Nigeria. I tried my best."

Lucas Arellano of SD Farms hooks Santos Bollini of Mashomack.

Dantata plans to move up into 12-goal league play in February, he said. 

In addition to Dantata Jr., Hope Arellano had three goals and Peco Polledo added two goals. 

Olivera led Mashomack with a team-high five goals. Hermans and Bollini each had two goals and Monteverde added one.

Sayyu Dantata Jr. of SD Farms goes to hook Juanse Olivera of Mashomack.

Dantata was coming off Thursday's Sterling Cup semifinal loss to Valiente. It was the first time he played against polo great Adolfo Cambiaso.

MVP Sayyu Dantata of SD Farms.
"He is amazing, he is different than anybody I have seen," Dantata Jr. said. "The way he plays, his style, he is just unique."

During the winter season in Wellington, Grand Champions is hosting 19 tournaments, the most of any club in the U.S., including four in January. The highlight of the schedule is the second season of the 26-goal World Polo League, featuring at least 11 teams and most of the best players in the sport.

With 18 safe and well-manicured fields, including 11-tournament grade, the club will host every level of polo for men, women and children including the WPL, the only 26-goal polo held outside of Argentina featuring the best players in the world.

The club 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.

Grand Champions is coming off its finest fall season in the club's 13-year history. It was the only club in the nation to stage two 20-goal fall tournaments in addition to the International Cup and Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial. The club also hosted a full schedule of successful and highly-competitive medium goal tournaments.

Best Playing Pony was Hippi Chic for Hope Arellano and Edwin Cordova
Photo by Frederic Roy

Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique polo facility, nestled in the heart of the world's winter equestrian capital Wellington. It features 120 stalls in five self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation including one field for stick-and-ball and new parking lot.

Aspen Valley Cup 8-Goal finalists SD Farms and Mashomack.

Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm's expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program, created by Melissa Ganzi when the club first opened.

The Polo School, a stand-alone USPA-sanctioned polo club, is thriving at Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm. It is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its' mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. Headed by Director of Operations Juan Bollini, The Polo School has nurtured several men and women polo players now playing in the pro and amateur ranks since its inception.

Grand Champions awards table for the Aspen Valley 8-Goal Cup league final.
Photos by ChukkerTV

2020 WINTER SCHEDULE

FEBRUARY

Sterling Cup
Sunday 2/2 11 a.m.  Sterling Cup Final at Valiente
Valiente vs Santa Clara


$100,000 World Cup
Saturday 2/1 10 a.m. Audi vs Santa Clara
Saturday 2/1 12 p.m. Gracida Wine vs Daily Racing Form
Saturday 2/1 2 p.m. Valiente vs Palm Beach Equine
Saturday 2/1 4 p.m. Beverly Equestrian vs Flexjet
Wednesday 2/5 2 p.m. Dundas vs Valiente/PB Equine winner
Wednesday 2/5 4 p.m. Casablanca vs Beverly Equestrian/ Flexjet winner
Semifinals and Final TBA

FEB 1-29            Halo Polo Trophy, 6
FEB 1-29            Top Pony 8 Goal
FEB 1-29            Sieber Memorial Trophy
FEB 6-16            WPL All-Star Challenge
FEB 19-MAR 1    WPL Founders Cup
FEB 25-MAR 8    $50,000 National 12-Goal


MARCH
MAR 1-29             Madelon Bourdieu Memorial
MAR 1-29             Limited Edition 8-Goal Series    
MAR 1-28             Top Pony 12-Goal Series
MAR 4-22             WPL Palm Beach Open
MAR 28-APR 18  WPL Triple Crown of Polo
MAR 31-APR 4    WCT Finals

APRIL
APR 4-19            Las Acacias, 4-8
APR 6-12            U.S. National Mixed Doubles Polo Championship

FEB-APR           WCT Ladies Wednesday League


Polo Hotline 561-644-5050
THE POLO SCHOOL 

The Polo School at Grand Champions and Director of Operations Juan Bollini are dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. The school's mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For lessons contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099. 


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 on ChukkerTV please contact Mike Ferreira at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 


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.

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