Polo Plaudits

The battleground is now set after a closely fought quarter final game in the biggest polo tournament on the Left Coast, the NetJets Pacific Coast Open on Sunday.

Billionaire film producer Sarah Magness’ Bentley Estates team beat Santa Barbara developer Justin Klentner’s Klentner Ranch 11-8, while Grant Palmer’s Antelope won a real squeaker against real estate investor-designer Ben Soleimani’s Carbenella players, who led the match from the first minute.

In the final chukker, it was all square at 7-7 until Antelope delivered the death blow with a last-minute goal, making the score 8-7.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 spectators are expected to pack the stands and cabanas, not to mention tailgaters, at the Santa Barbara Polo Club’s hallowed Holden Field, where the impressive gold-and-silver, 5-foot trophy will be awarded.