Recent claim has been hot

SAN MATEO, Calif. - My Onomatopoeia has been poetry in motion since leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer claimed the 4-year-old gelding for $32,000 from a victory on March 4 at Santa Anita.

My Onomatopoeia cleared his first allowance condition by seven lengths March 24, then stepped up to an optional claimer April 13 and scored his second straight wire-to-wire victory. He goes for his third straight win for Hollendorfer, and fourth overall, in Sunday's Bay Meadows feature, an $80,000 optional claimer at one mile on the turf.

My Onomatopoeia again figures to be the one to catch, but Desert Boom appears the one to beat as he goes for the 12th win of his career. A high-level claimer, Desert Boom has been at the top of his game since being reclaimed by trainer Art Sherman for $32,000 from a win at Hollywood Park on Nov. 7.

He won two straight before entering the Grade 3 Seabiscuit here opening weekend, when he faded badly and finished sixth. Desert Boom returned to win a $50,000 optional claimer here and then ran second in a $62,000 optional claimer at Santa Anita following a six-week freshener.

Desert Boom has won 2 of 7 turf starts and has a solid work since his last race. His rail draw should help as he stalks My Onomatopoeia.

My Onomatopoeia's principal pace foe could be stablemate Starspell, who has 3 wins, 3 seconds, and a third in seven starts on turf here.

Completing the field are King's County, making his third U.S. start, and Gambler's Mark, second after a strong late run in a comeback against similar.

* In the companion feature, a first-level allowance sprint at six furlongs, Zackary's Verbatim may offer value from the rail as he switches back to the main track and a sprint after disappointing on the turf.

Any Questions needs some help on the pace and figures to get it.

Thiscatskrafty, worse than second only once in his past six starts, should be a pace contender as he takes a big step up off a claim. Tab Cat M.D., eased in his comeback at Turf Paradise on Feb. 15, has put in a strong series of drills over the track here.