High Season

By Lisa Duncan

“He’s coming in hot!” called longtime announcer Melanja Jones as horses thundered across the field, perfectly capturing the excitement. Santa Barbara’s prestigious High Goal season was officially underway, bringing many of the world’s finest players together for faster ponies, tougher battles, and the sport’s most exhilarating competition.

For polo legend Mike Azzaro, however, the weekend was measured less by handicaps than by family. After postponing retirement, the Hall of Famer and seven-time U.S. Open champion returned to Santa Barbara to play alongside his sons, Harrison and Hunter Azzaro, and his son-in-law, Santiago Torres, proving that some of the weekend’s biggest victories weren’t measured on the scoreboard.

“If it’s not ice hockey, skiing or cars, I don’t like it,” laughed Lake C. Underwood II, who traveled from New Jersey to visit his childhood friend, Robb Francis. The son of legendary Porsche racer and dealer Lake Underwood, whose family opened America’s first Porsche dealerships, Underwood grew up surrounded by iconic sports cars and quickly discovered that Montecito’s fastest horsepower wasn’t beneath the hood of a vintage Porsche – it was charging across the polo field.

On the scoreboard, Klentner Ranch defeated Mrs. Momma Bear, 15-11, behind stellar performances from seven-goalers Nachi Viana and Jesse Bray, while Jake and Justin Klentner added timely scoring. Mrs. Momma Bear answered with a spirited late rally led by Harrison Azzaro, whose sixth-chukka scoring surge kept spectators cheering until the final horn.

Montecito residents Pardis Nasseri, a UCSB graduate and nationally recognized private equity advisor, and Dr. Sherry Nasseri, chair of Palm Tree’s Women’s Leadership Council, represented tournament sponsor Palm Tree LLC as the High Goal season officially got underway. Ursula Nesbitt –radiant in a flowing dress – and the Mrs. Momma Bear pop up luxury clothing store added a splash of chic to the afternoon.

High Season, Montecito-style, is where world-class polo players and Porsche pedigrees happily share the spotlight.