Start key for Holiday’s Angel

A stumble-free start. That’s what trainer Allen Milligan wants for Holiday’s Angel on Friday night in the $50,000 Opelousas Stakes at Evangeline Downs.

Holiday’s Magic can be closer to the pace in the mile turf race for fillies and mares than she found herself in her most recent start, when she broke last of all and finished sixth in an optional $62,500 claiming race on the grass June 14 at Churchill Downs.

“She just stumbled out of the gate the other day and it left her with way too much to do by the time she got her feet underneath her,” Milligan said.

“It just took her completely out of the game. She had a legitimate excuse. It’s not the way she likes to run, being that far out of it. She likes to stalk.”

The Opelousas drew a field of nine, led by Americium, a stakes winner who scratched out of last month’s Spotted Horse at Evangeline and instead won an optional $35,000 claiming race on turf at Lone Star Park.

OPELOUSAS STAKES (RACE 7) KEY CONTENDERS

Holiday’s Angel, by Harlan’s Holiday Last 3 Beyers: 62-62-74

◗ Roberto Morales has the mount on Holiday’s Angel, who last year ran fourth to champion Champagne Room in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks and fourth to Daddys Lil Darling in the $200,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs. She will break from the rail.

“I think she’ll run big,” Milligan said.

◗ Keene Thoroughbreds owns Holiday’s Angel, who is looking for her first stakes win Friday.

Americium, by Brilliant Speed Last 3 Beyers: 78-80-75

◗ She was a nose winner at Lone Star in her most recent start, covering a mile on firm turf in a sharp 1:35.56. She won at a mile on turf in the 2016 running of the La Senorita at Retama Park.

◗ Americium will break from post 4 and could get a tracking trip behind sprint-to-route prospect Mi Copa Rebosa. Tim Thornton, who leads the standings at Evangeline, has the mount for the meet’s leading trainer, Karl Broberg. Broberg is winning races at a 33 percent clip this meet.

◗ Americium is owned by M and M Racing, the stable of Mike and Mickala Sisk, who in April won the title at Oaklawn.