Zenni’s 2 goals lead Daily Racing Form
WELLINGTON — Daily Racing Form patron Jared Zenni is living a dream.
Zenni scored two goals, including what proved to be the game-winner as Daily Racing Form surprised pretournament favorite and defending champion Valiente, 10-9, in the 26-goal U.S. Open final Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
“For me as a kid, I always used to come to IPC and watch the [featured Sunday] game at 3 o’clock,” said the 23-year-old Zenni. “I had the dream to just, to play in the U.S. Open, then get to the final and then to win it. That’s a dream come true. Few people make it to the final, even fewer win it. For me, this is crazy, it hasn’t even set in yet.”
Zenni’s goal gave Daily Racing Form a 10-8 lead with 4:42 left in the game. Valiente’s Facundo Pieres converted a 30-yard penalty shot to cut the margin to, 10-9, with 3:23 remaining. Valiente had a final chance to tie the game, when Adolfo Cambiaso stole the ball near midfield and passed it to Pieres, but his long shot went wide left as time ran out.
The win ended Valiente’s perfect season at 12 wins and cost them a chance to win the U.S. polo triple crown for the second consecutive season. It was the third year in a row and 34th time that the game was decided by one goal.
“Against Valiente, you have to play a perfect game,” said Zenni, who was named Most Valuable Player. “Today we got lucky and it was our day. We’ve been building up to this the whole season. In the U.S. Open we were getting a little more confidence with every win.”
Ten-goaler Hilario Ulloa, who was hit underneath his eye by a ball and needed several stitches to close the cut, led Daily Racing Form with five goals. Pieres led Valiente with six goals and Cambiaso scored two.
The game will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday at 2 p.m.