“It’s exciting (to score the winning goal),” said Carlitos Gracida.

After the game, father and son smiled and had differing views on who scored the winning goal.

“It was one of the best goals I ever scored,” said Carlos Gracida, who hit the ball from deep in the right corner and then turned to change horses.

The goal officially was awarded to Carlitos Gracida.

“Now the Open starts and we separate the kids from the men,” said 16-time U.S. Open champion Memo Gracida of Mokarow Farms. “Our team is getting better and better every game.”

Carlos and Memo Gracida scored three goals each while Carlitos Gracida and Temy Willington scored one goal apiece for Mokarow Farms (3-1). Mokarow did not score. Adam Snow and Ignacio Novillo Astrada scored three goals each for Las Monjitas (3-1) while Eduardo Novillo Astrada added one goal. Patron Camilo Bautista did not score.

Nine-goaler Lucas Criado and 3-goaler Miguelito Torres scored four goals apiece to lead White Birch (3-1), which built a 10-7 lead and held on for the win. Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre added two goals and patron Peter Brant did not score.

Pancho Bensadon scored five goals to lead Pony Express (3-1) while Bautista Heguy added three goals and Piki Alberdi scored one goal. Patron Bob Daniels did not score. One of Heguy’s goals was a 150-yard penalty shot from midfield early in the fourth chukker.

BTA, which came into the game needing to win by at least five goals to have a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals, took a 2-1 lead after the first chukker. But Lechuza Caracas dominated the rest of game, taking a 7-2 halftime lead and increasing it to 12-5 after the fifth chukker.

Ten-goaler Sebastian Merlos added four goals, Magoo Laprida had two goals and patron Victor Vargas scored one goal for Lechuza Caracas (1-3). Jeff Blake led BTA with three game while Mike Azzaro and Tommy Biddle added two goals apiece. Patron Kelly Beal did not score.

The semifinals of the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier are scheduled for Wednesday at noon and 3 p.m. The final, set for Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, expects to draw more than 8,000 spectators. 

Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only four tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The others are the Hall of Fame Cup and the C.V. Whitney Cup, both also played at International Polo Club Palm Beach in 2006, and the USPA Gold Cup, being played in Aiken, South Carolina later this year.

The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortland Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ?-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.

The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $15 for adults and reserved lawn tickets are $40. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
 
Stanford U.S. Open Schedule
                                   
Sunday, April 16                10 a.m.                 Isla Carroll vs. Pony Express
                                          10 a.m.                 Bendabout vs. Mokarow Farms
                                          Noon                    White Birch vs. Orchard Hill
                                          3 p.m.                   ERG vs. Las Monjitas
 
Stanford U.S. Open
Standings (through April 13)
 
Team                                        W-L     Net Goals         Goals Scored
 
1. Las Monjitas                        3-1       +10                  45
2. Pony Express                       3-1       +3                    42
3. White Birch                          3-1       +3                    40
4. Bendabout                            3-1       +3                    37
5. Mokarow Farms                  3-1       +2                    41
6. Orchard Hill             2-2       +1                    47
7. Isla Carroll                           2-2       1                     42
8. ERG                         2-2       0                     47
9. Skeeterville                           2-2       -1                     41
10. Lechuza Caracas                1-3       0                     42
11. Black Watch                      1-3       -5                     39
12. BTA                                   1-3       -11                   37
13. San Saba                            0-4       -6                     34