Los Amigos came from behind to capture the Carbondale Classic Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club. Trailing by one going into the final chukker, Los Amigos (Brian Boyd, Nic Roldan, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) scored four goals to defeat Casablanca (Carlitos Gracida, Grant Ganzi, Stewart Armstrong, Alejandro Novillo Astrada), 11-9. It was the El Paso, Tex.-based Los Amigos organization’s third title of the season.
Top American player Nic Roldan was named Most Valuable Player. Roldan had three goals, including one in the final chukker. Pitkin, a 6-year-old Bay mare was selected Best Playing Pony. The Wellington, Fla.-based Santa Rita Polo Farm owned and bred horse by Open Quarzo out of Souffle, was played by Nacho Novillo Astrada.
Nacho Novillo Astrada of Los Amigos was awarded the Flexjet Play of the Day for his sixth chukker midfield penalty goal. Brian Boyd won his fourth tournament of the summer season (three with La Karina) and scored a team-high four goals for Los Amigos. Nacho Novillo Astrada had three goals and Foster added one. Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored a game-high five goals for Casablanca. Armstrong had three goals and Ganzi added one.
The game was close with Casablanca leading 5-4 at halftime and 8-7 after five chukkers. Los Amigos found its offensive attack, outscoring Casablanca, 4-1, in the sixth chukker with two goals from Nacho Novillo Astrada, including a midfield penalty conversion, Boyd’s goal and another penalty conversion from Roldan.
The Carbondale Classic was the ninth outdoor grass tournament and eleventh overall of the summer polo season at AVPC. The Carbondale Classic is named after the town of Carbondale, where Aspen Valley Polo Club is located. The picturesque town is located 170 miles west of Denver and 14 miles from Aspen in the heart of Colorado’s breathtaking central Rocky Mountains, resting in the shadow of the 12,953-foot Mount Sopris.
