Opening Day and Hat Day at Empire Polo Club
Presented by Ferrari of Rancho Mirage.
January 5, 2020

8-Goal Coachella Cup Final
4-Goal Stagecoach Challenge Final

In the 8-goal Coachella Cup Cotterel Farms (Jenny Benardoni 0, Gaby Saccullo 1, Santi Von Wernich 5, and Francisco Benardoni 2), confronted Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Nick Cifuni 3, and Carlitos Galindo 4).

Evergreen had a slow start on this gorgeous, sunny day, as Jenny and Francisco Benardoni put their team ahead 2 to 0 in the first chukker. In the second chukker Nick Cifuni scored once for Evergreen, which was answered by Cotterel’s  Gaby Saccullo’s  goal in the third chukker. This ended a very defensive first half with Cotterel Farms up by two points, 3 to 1.  Tom Sprung started Evergreen’s second-half charge with a magnificent carry, which Carlos tapped in for the first goal of the second half. Nick scored a penalty 2 and Carlitos made a beautiful, wide-open run and goal. Von Wernich’s penalty 3 shot went through for Cotterel, resulting with the 4^thchukker ending with the teams tied at 4 to 4. In chukker 5 Nick put a point up for Evergreen with a successful penalty 3. Gaby also scored a penalty 3 shot for Cotterel Farms. At the end of the fifth chukker the teams remained tied with 5 to 5 score. The last chukker’s 3 goals were all made by Carlitos Galindo, with one from the field and two penalty 4 shots. Evergreen won the game with the final score of 8 to 5.

In the finals of the 4-Goal Stagecoach Challenge, Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Francisco Guinazu 3, Dayelle Fargey 1.5) lined up against Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Russell Stimmel 2, Robert Payne III 3, David Chun/Robert McGinley -1). Zahedi Chogan started the match with a .5 handicap advantage in this 5 chukker game.

Rob Payne scored the only goal of the first chukker, converting a penalty 2 for the Empire team. In the second time period Francisco Guinazu made 3 impressive goals for Zahedi Chogan. Empire put 2 points on the board, ending chukker 2 with Zahedi Chogan at a slight advantage, 3 to 3.5. Zahedi Chogan pulled ahead in the third chukker with 2 points to Empire’s 1, ending the first half with a score of 4 to 5.5. Fargey and Guinazu each put one through the uprights in the fourth chukker, putting Zahedi Chogan on top 7.5 to 4. Russell Stimmel scored for Empire in the fifth chukker, which Zahedi Chogan answered with 3 goals. The final score was 5 to 9.5, with Zahedi Chogan victorious.

Get the new Empire Polo Club Mobile App

Empire Polo Club launched a new mobile app for polo players, spectators and customers.  The app includes game schedules, general information about polo events, live music schedules and links for the Date Shed, Tack Room Tavern and Polo Pizza Co. The “Deals and Coupons” section has deals at Polo Pizza Co., The Tack Room Tavern and at the Empire Polo Club Sunday Polo Gift Shop.

Use the links below to download the free mobile app.

Click here for the Google Play App Store.

Click here for Apple App Store.

You can scan the QR code below to access the app links for download.

Credits:  The Empire Polo Club mobile app was designed by Digital West Media, Inc.  (www.dwmi.com) using a third party mobile app product.

4-Goal Jackalope Holiday Cup
Empire Polo Club | December 22-23, 2019

Empire polo club kicked off the 2019-2020 season with the Jackalope Holiday Cup. Four teams came to the field for a beautiful, sunny, but chilly weekend in the desert.

Cotterel, (Jenny Benardoni 0, Francisco Benardoni 2, Gaby Saccullo 1, and Pepe Rodriquez 0) came out ahead of Sayulita, (Nick Fernandez -1, Frederico Ceballos 2, Nicolas Maciel 3, and ­Eric Hammon 0).It was a close game, ending with a 7 to 6 final score.

Luna Polo, (Kirsten Ludwig 0, Karen Reese 1, Jennifer Alexy 0, and Diego Llaregli 3), went up against Columbia West  (David Barnett -.5, Igor Seraynov -1, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3, and Cameron Smith 1) in Saturday’s second match. At the end of the four chukker game, the teams were tied at 6 to 6. They went to a shoot-out and Luna won, 7 to 6.

In Sunday’s Final match Luna Polo came out running, and scored four unmatched points in the first chukker. The Cotterel team fired back in the second chukker, scoring four goals to Luna’s one. With Cotterel’s .5 point awarded on handicaps, the first half ended with Luna ahead of Cotterel, 5 to 4.5. The second half was all Cotterel, who racked up five more goals, ending the game with Cotterel winning 9.5 to 5.

The consolation match was a very close. Columbia West pulled ahead to win over Sayulita 7 to 6. Nick Fernandez was the high scorer with four goals.

Register your kids early for POLOCHELLA Junior  Tournament on Feb. 15-17th, 2020. The tournament will take place at Empire Polo Club.  See attached flyer for details.