Team Profiles
The Stanford Financial Group
U.S. Open Polo Championship

Following is a brief look at the 13 teams competing in the 100th Anniversary Stanford Financial Group - U.S. Open Polo Championship.

BENDABOUT
U.S. Open Highlights: 2002 Champion
Eerily similar to the team that won in 2002 as Coca-Cola, with patron Gillian Johnston, Adam Snow and Miguel Novillo Astrada. However, as they raised the U.S. Open trophy, their handicaps increased by one goal. The 2003 version did not fare so well, not winning a game in four attempts. Like last year, the key in 2004 will be the fourth player. This season it will be 5-goaler Alejandro Novillo Astrada, a 21-year-old who has impressed everyone during the 22-goal season. Miguel Novillo Astrada is coming off a fantastic Argentine season, winning the Triple Crown and has continued his outstanding play in the United States. This is one of two teams with two 10-goalers on its roster and it is a legitimate contender.

CATAMOUNT
U.S. Open Highlights: First-time entrant
Led by the dynamic duo of 10-goaler Mike Azzaro and 9-goaler Carlos Gracida, who are no strangers to the U.S. Open. Gracida has hoisted this trophy nine times and Azzaro six times; they were teammates on the 1991 championship Grant’s Farm Manor team. Both are capable of putting up big offensive numbers. Scott Devon is the second highest-rated patron in the tournament at 3 goals and has played above his handicap during the 22-goal tournaments. The team’s fourth is 4-goaler Pelon Escapite, playing in his first tournament of the season. Azzaro, Gracida and Devon won the 2004 22-goal Joe Barry Memorial tournament, displaying an opportunistic offense, especially Devon. He may prove to be the key to his team’s success, although he is coming off a hand injury that kept him out of action for more than a month.

EVERGLADES
U.S. Open Highlights: Runner-up in 2000
This team features a trio who have been together a long time - patron Skeeter Johnston and 8-goalers Tomas Llorente and Owen Rinehart. Joining them for the 26-goal season is 8-goaler Lucas Monteverde, whose offense is what this team needs the most. At No. 1, Johnston must make the most of his scoring opportunities to keep the defenses honest. Llorente and Rinehart like to control the ball. If they are effective, Monteverde should be able to break through at full speed and get numerous scoring chances. Rinehart is the only member with a U.S. Open title on his resume, having won it in 1986 with Retama II.

ISLA CARROLL
U.S. Open Highlights: 1997 Champion, Runner-up in 1998
Patron John Goodman is reunited again with Memo Gracida, who has won this event a record 15 times, the first time in 1977, the last time 20 years later. Together, they won the 1997 U.S. Open and were a semifinalist last year. They are joined by 8-goalers Sugar Erskine and Pancho Bensadon. Erskine won this event in 1998 as a member of Escue and Bensadon was a member of the 2003 champion C Spear. Gracida will be the quarterback, passing to Erskine and Bensadon after he draws the defense to himself. If the defense backs off, look for Gracida to try to score more than he did in the 22-goal tournaments. Bensadon, Erskine and Goodman formed the nucleus of the 22-goal Isla Carroll team in 2004.

LAS MONJITAS
U.S. Open Highlights: Quarterfinalist, 2003
This is their second season at the 26-goal level and they have proven to be worthy opponents at the 22-goal level. With three-fourths of the champion Argentine Open team (La Aguada) lining up for the U.S. Open - Javier, Eduardo and Nacho Novillo Astrada - with patron Camilo Bautista, this has to be considered one of the pre-tournament favorites. Las Monjitas played at 25 goals last season, but Javier went up one to 10 goals, Eduardo stayed at 9 goals, and Nacho joined his brothers in the lineup this season. The key will be the horses - if they are fresh and healthy, this team could go a long way. Eduardo was seriously injured on March 1 and may be replaced by 9-goaler Paco de Narvaez.

LECHUZA CARACAS
U.S. Open Highlights: Runner-up in 2003, Semifinalist in 2002
Patron Victor Vargas’ team has been improving its finish each year. If the form follows, this is his year. Pite and Sebastian Merlos form perhaps the most explosive middle in the tournament, as the 10-goalers bring loads of talent, heart and on-field expressions. The foursome is complete with 4-goaler Brad Blake at Back. Vargas has been effective at No. 1 and must continue to improve. They did not play a lot during the 22-goal season, trying to keep their horses fresh for the 26-goal tournaments. The Merlos’ were teammates on the 1990 U.S. Open championship team with Les Diables Bleus and in 1998 with Escue. Pite also won the U.S. Open in 1989 and Sebastian won it in 1995.

MILLARVILLE
U.S. Open Highlights: Semifinalist in 2003, Quarterfinalist in 2002
A team of four pros, with 7-goaler Frederick Mannix, 6-goaler Daniel Roenisch and 8-goaler Mariano Gonzalez forming the nucleus. The team has changed positions during the C.V. Whitney Cup, trying to find the right combination that will unlock the scoring this group needs to compete against the elite teams. They return for a third attempt at bringing the trophy north of the border. Five-goaler Augustin Zavaleta rounds out the team named for a small town outside of Calgary.

OLD PUEBLO
U.S. Open Highlights: First-time entrant
This could be a fantastic team with lots of offense, featuring Matias Magrini, 17-year-old phenom Facundo Pieres, middle son of the great Gonzalo Pieres, and Jeff Hall. Offensively, Magrini is at the top of his game and Pieres was impressive during the first two 22-goal tournaments. Hall, in his first season as an 8-goaler, has been steady all season. He and Magrini won the U.S. Open title in 2003 as members of C Spear with Magrini being named the MVP. Hall’s father, patron John Hall, makes the leap into 26-polo. They must jell quickly to make an impact in this year’s tournament.

ORCHARD HILL
U.S. Open Highlights: Runner-up in 2002 and 2001
Eduardo “Ruso” Heguy, generally considered the world’s best Back, plays the No. 3 position effortlessly during the 26-goal season. He is dangerous on knock-ins and Penalty 5s with his booming forehands. Orchard Hall must rebound from its winless 2003 U.S. Open, but for this team to succeed, they must have a second scoring option besides Heguy. It might be Julio Arellano, who had an excellent offensive performance, leading Crab Orchard in scoring during the 22-goal season. Arellano is familiar in the U.S. Open annals, winning titles in 1990, 1992 and 1995. Another option could be 21-year-old Nicolas Roldan, a 7-goaler who was a member of Escue, the 1998 winning team, as a 0-goaler. Patron Steve Van Andel spent the Hall of Fame Cup getting ready for the 26-goal season.

PONY EXPRESS
U.S. Open Highlights: Runner-up in 1999
Patron Bob Daniels’ squad hopes the addition of 10-goaler Bautista Heguy will be the difference. Heguy is considered one of the top players in the world, but this is his first tournament of the winter season. How he performs is the key to Pony Express’ success. He should receive plenty of help with Sapo Caset and Alex Agote, both of whom have performed well so far this season. Daniels plays No. 4 and will have to be able to contain his opponents so his teammates can concentrate on offense.

SAN SABA
U.S. Open Highlights: First-time entrant
This team features one of the top offensive threats in the sport in 9-goaler Agustin Merlos. At times, he is able to control the game by himself with spectacular offensive moves. Hector Galindo is an effective No. 2 on both sides of the ball, forcing his way through defenses and playing aggressive defense. Patron Tommy Lee Jones must step up his game at the 26-goal level. They are joined by 7-goaler Toto Collardin in his first tournament of the season. San Saba has been close many times this season and must find a way to avoid losing momentum and games.

TEXAS POLO
U.S. Open Highlights: Quarterfinalist in 2003
Patron Michael Price’s team has shown improvement every year - they were winless in 2001 as Templeton, 1-3 in 2002 as Texas Polo and won three games last season. Price is counting on a pair of 9-goalers - Milo Araujo and Pepe Heguy - to continue to lead his team toward elite status. The trio played together last season and are joined by 7-goaler Gaston Laulhe. This is his first season but he is very familiar to Heguy and Araujo, working with them and their horses in Argentina. Both Araujo and Heguy have the ability to dominate a game and Laulhe is a proven finisher.

WHITE BIRCH
U.S. Open Highlights: Runner-up in 1997, 1995 and 1994
This is the only major high-goal tournament in the United States that Peter Brant’s team has not won. Brant is the highest-rated patron in the tournament at 4 goals. Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre has been very effective so far in 2004 during the 22-goal season, his horsepower asserting itself and his scoring touch second to none. Aguerre led the Hall of Fame Cup with 40 goals in six games. Aguerre and Brant will be joined the dangerous Lucas Criado, a 9-goaler, and 3-goaler Del Walton, who has sometimes played well above his handicap. It will be imperative for Walton to be a factor if White Birch is to capture the U.S. Open trophy for the first time.