3 Graces Polo Win Back-To-Back Titles At Aspen Valley Polo Club; Nic Roldan MVP
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 7, 2025---3 Graces Polo won its second tournament in two days Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
A day after winning the season-opening Independence Cup, 3 Graces Polo (Rebecca Cohen, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) defeated McClure River Ranch (Tomacho Pieres, Sugar Erskine, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Jason Crowder) in the ChukkerTV Cup, 8-4.
Nic Roldan, playing a more defensive game turning away five goals during the four-chukker game, was Most Valuable Player.
"There wasn't really a plan, we were having some fun, it was our first weekend back," Roldan said. "This was our first warm-up weekend for the horses and players. Next weekend we'll start to kick it into high gear."
Dolfina Solista, an 8-year-old dark bay mare, played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada and owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm (Clasiffy x Dolfina Cuartetera), was Best Playing Pony.
3 Graces Polo, a first-year team started by Cohen, has now won three tournaments in three months. The team won the spring season-ending The Memorial in May and also won a 6-goal tournament during the winter at Wellington-based Grand Champions Polo Club, AVPC's sister club.
"I was happy for Rebecca," Roldan said. "For someone coming out of The Polo School, it's great. She's improving, she's having a lot of fun. At the end of the day, that's what we want. We had a great end to the spring season and now winning here. We're in Aspen and it's a great place to be in the summer. It's a great polo vibe with a great group of players and sponsors."
Cohen, making her Aspen debut, received a special club award after the game.
For the second day in a row, 3 Graces Polo jumped out to an early lead and never trailed. Cohen opened scoring with a goal at the 5:26 mark. A minute later, Nacho Novillo Astrada tied the game with an 80-yarder. 3 Graces Polo scored back-to-back goals within two minutes to take a 3-1 advantage going into the second chukker.
Another goal midway through the second chukker gave 3 Graces Polo a 4-1 lead. Erskine scored off a 60-yarder late in the chukker to trail, 4-2. 3 Graces Polo continued its domination in the second half, outscoring McClure River Ranch, 4-2.
Cohen had two to bring her two-game total to six. Alejandro Novillo Astrada added one. For McClure River Ranch, Nacho Novillo Astrada had two goals and Erskine and Pieres each had one.
The 12th summer season kicked off this past weekend with the first two of fourteen grass and arena tournaments in July and August. With the magnificent 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, the tournaments feature world-class players and horses.
Among season highlights are the new AVPC Beach Club on Sundays starting July 13; Twilight Polo Series featuring Tuesday Night Arena and Twilight Polo, an exclusive series from July 29 to August 26 at the nation's fastest growing club; and Aug. 17th Summer Polo Charity Classic to benefit Aspen Valley Health Foundation. Other highlights are the Aug. 21-24 Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Silver Queen Invitational doubleheader, July 10-13 Craig Sakin Memorial and August 26 Aspen Arena Series Final.
Unlike any other summer polo destination in the world, the local culture offers shops, incredible culinary scene, art, music and nightlife in addition to hiking trails, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, golf and fly fishing.
During the 2024 summer season, there were nine different team champions illustrating the parity and competitiveness of the 2024 summer season and this season promises to be no different.
With a vision for the community and surrounding areas, the Ganzi family resurrected the club and polo in 2014. Since then polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club's offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, Kids Wheelie Polo, Gymkhana, Christmas In July, The Polo School at AVPC and Polo On Demand.
In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments on more than six world-class fields. There are also indoor and outdoor polo arenas.
The family-friendly club on 15 acres of pristine land welcomes spectators of all ages. All matches, food and refreshments are free and open to the public except for special events.
Aspen Valley Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.
For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Polo School Director Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
