AMERICAN OAKS: IT'S MEGAHERTZ WITH AN ASTERISK.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer

INGLEWOOD - Alex Solis heard more boos after his big victory aboard Megahertz than after his shocking defeat aboard Kona Gold on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

That's because Megahertz's victory in the inaugural running of the $500,000 American Oaks came as the result of the disqualification of Dublino - a decision that didn't sit well with everybody.

The Hollywood Park stewards ruled that Dublino and Kent Desormeaux, who finished first by half a length in the 1 1/4-mile turf race, had interfered with Megahertz as the pair of 3-year- old fillies surged to the front of the 14-horse field in the stretch. The stewards knocked Dublino down to second and awarded Megahertz the top prize.

Wen Solis rode Megahertz into the winner's circle and Vic Stauffer announced their names, much of the holiday-weekend crowd of 15,308 jeered loudly, even though Megahertz was the 9-5 favorite and Dublino the 4-1 second choice.

``I was very surprised,'' said Solis, who had shrugged toward the crowd as if to say, ``What gives?''

``Anybody who knows how to watch races could see she got bothered twice (in the stretch).''

Dublino, racing slightly in front on the inside of Megahertz, angled toward the grandstand and seemed to briefly knock the rival off stride with about one-eighth of a mile to go. A few steps later, Desormeaux's whip struck Megahertz in the face twice.

Megahertz ($5.80) ended up with $300,000 for her fifth consecutive victory since coming over from France to be trained by Bobby Frankel for owner Michael Bello.

Dublino earned $100,000 for second.

``It's very disheartening because I didn't think the other filly ever lost her momentum,'' said Laura De Seroux, trainer of Dublino. ``The crowd didn't think so, either.''

At least it was a memorable first edition of the American Oaks, created by Hollywood Park racing secretary Martin Panza to attract a large, international field. It's one of six races worth $500,000 or more at the spring-summer meeting.

Forgettable was 4-5 favorite Kona Gold's sixth-place finish behind Disturbingthepeace ($35) and Victor Espinoza in the $300,000 Triple Bend Handicap. The 2000 Eclipse Award-winning sprinter dropped back after contending for the lead between horses early in the 7-furlong sprint.

``He just wasn't himself today,'' Solis said of Kona Gold, the 8-year-old gelding who has won 13 of 25 races.

Trainer Bruce Headley blamed Kona Gold's 126-pound weight assignment, though that was only one pound more than he carried in winning the Los Angeles Handicap last month.

Megahertz wasn't the only winner for Frankel on a day when the trainer had horses in seven stakes at three tracks around the country. Surya ($3.20) closed explosively under Desormeaux to beat Angel Gift by two lengths in the $114,800 Royal Heroine on the Hollywood Park turf.

Frankel had seconds with Lido Palace, behind winner E Dubai, in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, and Denon, behind winner With Anticipation, in the United Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park.