POMONA, Calif. – Despite a disappointing fourth in an allowance race last out, Via Veneto will be favored to win the $50,000 Bangles and Beads Stakes on Sunday at Fairplex Park.

A small field of five fillies and mares entered the 6 1/2-furlong stakes, and trainer Bob Baffert already cleared the first hurdle by gaining the services of Fairplex all-time leading jockey Martin Pedroza.

“She’s training well, and Martin took the call,” Baffert said. “At this track, Martin Pedroza gets first call; Martin Garcia gets second call.”

MIAMI – Steve Dwoskin has been leading owner at Calder three times but has never won a training title. Now he’s trying to accomplish both feats during the same meet.

Dwoskin entered Friday’s program with 27 wins since the session began on April 25, six more than his closest pursuer, Bill White. He also owned 21 of those 27 winners, putting him eight victories in front of Jacks or Better Farm in the race for the owners crown.

Trainer Gary Thomas makes it count when he ships in to race at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M.

He has had one career starter at the track, Golden Yank, who in 2008 won the $150,000 Zia Derby. Thomas will be back in town Sunday with Greeley’s Conquest, a multiple stakes-winning sprinter who could go favored in the $100,000 Premiere Cup Handicap.

“It looks like the right spot to me,” Thomas said of making the trip from Remington Park.

The undefeated champion mare Zenyatta rolled through an impressive workout Friday morning at Hollywood Park as she prepares for the Grade 1 Lady’s Secret on Oct. 2.

According to Hollywood clocker Russ Hudak, Zenyatta and jockey Mike Smith broke off behind workmate El Vino, tracked that one until near the head of the stretch, then cruised the final quarter-mile in 23.60 seconds for a six-furlong time of 1:13.20, breezing.

ELMONT, N.Y. − Hoping to find a softer, gentler turf course in Canada than the one he expected to get at Belmont Park, trainer Robert Ribaudo said he would scratch Grand Couturier from Saturday’s Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap and point him to the $750,000 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 19.

Ribaudo said it had rained in Canada during the week and that more rain was expected. He said he feels Grand Couturier is better on a turf course that has some give in it as opposed to a firm turf. Grand Couturier won last year’s Bowling Green over yielding turf.

The California Horse Racing Board, in a special meeting held via teleconference, on Friday voted to approve the license for the Oak Tree Racing Association to run its fall meeting for the first time at Hollywood Park, a transfer that had been given the green light by the board at its regular monthly in August.

AUBURN, Wash. – Noosa Beach can cap a near-perfect 2010 and set an Emerald Downs record for stakes victories in a season with a win Sunday in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic.

ELMONT, N.Y. − With Banrock recovering from an illness and Straight Story poised to try the Woodbine Mile, Sunday’s $100,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes at Belmont Park came up a winnable spot for seven New York-breds seeking stakes glory.

Based on their recent form and the likelihood of a contested pace, Pocket Cowboys and Gimme Credit loom the top two contenders in Sunday’s Cole for statebreds going 1 1/8 miles over the inner turf course.

AUBURN, Wash. – Clair Annette will start as the favorite Sunday in the $40,000 Belle Roberts, one of six stakes races on Washington Cup Day at Emerald Downs. Win or lose, it promises to be a bittersweet moment for owner Nina Egbert and trainer Connie Bouslaugh, who will saddle Clair Annette for the final time before she is retired at age 7.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario − The fields are beginning to take shape for next Sunday’s three graded turf stakes, and each will have a European presence.

Three overseas shippers are expected to arrive Tuesday, Woodbine stakes manager Julie Bell said: Famous Name for the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile; Redwood for the Grade 1, $750,000 Northern Dancer; and Latin Love for the Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian.

Famous Name, trained by Dermot Weld, finished last of six in the recent Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles, but he was beaten 1 1/2 lengths for second money.