Conveyor's Angel in softer spot

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - For a brief time last month, was under consideration for Sunday's $750,000 American Oaks - until trainer Christopher Paasch took inventory on the field.

As the American Oaks grew closer, Paasch realized that his filly may not be up to that Grade 1 level, at least not yet. So instead Conveyor's Angel is starting in Monday's $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over a mile on turf at Hollywood Park.

"I would have been 30-1 in the Oaks and I'm 3-1 in the Flawlessly," Paasch said.

The Flawlessy can give a confidence boost to Conveyor's Angel and her trainer. Through Thursday, the stable had 6 wins in 51 starts, but only 1 win in 19 starts at Hollywood Park.

Conveyor's Angel won her last start, the Golden Poppy Breeders' Cup Stakes over a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on May 30. Also in the Flawlessly are Island Escape and Thrilling Victory, who ran second and third in the Golden Poppy.

Paasch wants to see a repeat performance from Conveyor's Angel, who ended a four-race losing streak in the Golden Poppy.

"It was impressive for the way she did it," Paasch said. "You've got to make her run into the bit the whole way. She's got a quarter-mile of run in her."

He is hoping to use the Flawlessly as a prep for the Del Mar Oaks next month.

"I think she's that kind of horse," he said. "We're just trying to find the right spot."

The Flawlessly Stakes drew a field of 12, including Louvain, who was entered for the American Oaks. Louvain won the Miesque Stakes here in November, but was only sixth in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap on June 5.

Royal Copenhagen takes a drop in class, attempting to win her first stakes in her seventh start in this country. Trained by Laura de Seroux, Royal Copenhagen has been fifth in her last two starts - the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes here on May 8 and the Grade 2 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap on June 5.

The race lacks a graded stakes winner in 2005.

Trainer Ron McAnally has two entrants - Private Banking and Northern Mischief.

They were third and eighth, respectively, in the Manhattan Beach Handicap over 5 1/2 furlongs on turf here on May 29.

Private Banking was beaten a length by the longshot Kresgeville. Brooke's Halo, the runner-up in that race, returned to win the Grade 2 Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks on June 12.