Wild Dude wins Kona Gold Stakes by a length at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Wild Dude overtook 4-5 favorite Subtle Indian in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes for older horses by a

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Wild Dude overtook 4-5 favorite Subtle Indian in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes for older horses by a length Saturday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Wild Dude ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.10 and paid $11.20, $4 and $2.80 as the 9-2 third choice.

Subtle Indian returned $2.80 and $2.40, while Cautious Giant was another half-length back in third and paid $4.20 to show.

The victory, worth $120,000, increased Wild Dude's career earnings to $1,095,232, with eight wins in 22 starts.

''We gave this horse a little time and he's been training really well,'' said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who also co-owns the 6-year-old Florida-bred. ''I didn't know if the No. 1 post would hurt him, but he got real lucky and got through, so that was what won the race for him. He's a millionaire now and we're very proud of him.''

San Onofre was abruptly pulled up by Edwin Maldonado coming out of the seven-furlong chute. The horse sustained two broken sesamoid bones in his right front ankle and had to be euthanized.

In the $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares, So Sweetitiz led all the way to win by a half-length over Miss Double d'Oro.

Ridden by Mike Smith, So Sweetitiz ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:13.70 and paid $17, $7 and $4.20 for trainer Marty Jones.

Miss Double d'Oro returned $3.60 and $2.40, while 9-5 favorite Swift Lady paid $2.60 to show.