Wild Dude Rallies to Kona Gold Victory

Two-time grade I-winning sprinter Wild Dude secured a graded stakes win in a third straight season May 21 when he rallied from fifth to score a clear victory in the $201,035 Kona Gold Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park. 

Owned by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and Green Smith Jr., Wild Dude rated in fifth under Rafael Bejarano in the 6 1/2-furlong test as 4-5 favorite Subtle Indian and Ramon Vazquez opened a five-length advantage through a quarter mile in :21.58. Subtle Indian maintained that clear advantage through a half mile in :44.37 and still led by one length in midstretch.

Wild Dude, who had been saving ground throughout, bid inside past the eighth pole, gained the advantage in deep stretch, and scored by a length at the wire. Wild Dude finished the race in 1:15.10 on a fast track.

"I had a very good trip. I knew that (Subtle Indian) would go to the lead," Bejarano said. "I thought other horses would go with him too, so I just took my time. I knew my horse would show me a big kick but I had to make sure by the three-eighths pole that I had enough room. I let him go in the stretch, had a clean trip and my horse won." 

With the win Wild Dude secures the fifth graded stakes win of his career. The 6-year-old Wildcat Heir gelding has won at least one graded stakes race in 2014, 2015, and 2016, including last year's Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I) and Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (gr. I). The $120,000 earned Saturday put Wild Dude into seven figures for his career at $1,095,232.

"I thought he would run a heck of a race," Hollendorfer said. "I didn't know if the number one post would hurt him, but he got real lucky and got through, so that was what won the race for him. He's a real nice horse. He's a millionaire now, and we're very proud of him."

Subtle Indian held second, finishing a half-length in front of third place Cautious Giant. Wild Dude paid $11.20, $4, and $2.80 across the board while Subtle Indian returned $2.80 and $2.40. Cautious Giant paid $4.20 to show.

Bred in Florida by Versatile Thoroughbreds, Wild Dude is out of winner Courtly Choice, by Doneraile Court.

Unfortunately two-time grade III winner San Onofre suffered a catastrophic breakdown early in Saturday's race. A homebred for Karen and Bruce Headley, San Onofre took a bad step leaving the chute and was vanned off the track. A steward informed track officials after the race that San Onofre was euthanized.