West Point is double-barreled for Saturday’s Grade 2 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine with Turned Aside and Voodoo Zip, both coming off victories this spring. They will run a few hours after European import Parnac makes her American bow in the black and gold silks in the $100,000 Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park.
Drawn to the rail for the 6-furlong Highlander, Turned Aside handled the inside gamely on June 5 over the turf at Woodbine, tracking just off the pace, splitting foes and scoring by a neck for trainer Mark Casse. He notched two stakes wins in 2021 and finished second by a half-length in the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine last October. Emma-Jayne Wilson has the call in a field of 11.
Voodoo Zip circled the field on May 29 at Belmont to prevail by a half-length on May 29 for trainer Christophe Clement in a third-level allowance. A 5-year-old son of City Zip, he now tackles stakes company for the first time, teaming with Dylan Davis with post two in the Highlander.
Christophe also trains Parnac, a French-bred filly who was a near champion in Germany as a 2-year-old in 2021. She debuted with a maiden win on October 2 at Mulheim and followed right up with a stakes triumph at Hannover on October 29. West Point and co-owner Dream With Me Stables acquired her privately over the winter.
Parnac, a daughter of Zarak, is the 5-to-2 morning-line favorite for the 8 1/2-furlong Christiana. Trevor McCarthy will take the reins.