2YOs in action at Big M

Whats Up Now (1:5.2.1) and Artzina (1:53.2) captured $53,500 divisions of the Goshen Cup for 2-year-old pacing colts while Donato Hanover (1:57.2) and Peyton Way (1:59.3) won $55,675 divisions of the E.H. Harriman Cup for 2-year-old trotting colts at the Meadowlands Thursday night.

Whats Up Now set a stakes record with his score. After his entrymate, the runaway Mattdultery, cut the fractions, Whats Up Now took the lead at the top of the stretch and held on for a three-quarter-length victory. Mattdultery, who had driver Yannick Gingras laid back for all but the stretch drive, fought back for second.

Whats Up Now, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by George Teague Jr., eclipsed the 1:52.2 stakes mark set in 2005 by Western Ace, also driven by Pierce and trained by Teague.

Whats Up Now is a son of Western Hanover-Beach Guest owned by Rodney Mitchell Jr. Camden, Del., and Teague Inc. George Teague bought the colt as a yearling for $30,000.

In the second Goshen Cup mile, Artzina [$4.40, $2.80, $2.40], driven by John Campbell and trained by Dylan Davis, closed stoutly to catch Twin Character for a 1 ¾-length tally.

Artzina, by Artiscape-Koutzina, races for his breeder, Kal Liebowitz of New York City, and Marc Rubach of West New York, N.J. He now has a win and a third in two starts.

Hall of Fame driver Ray Remmen cut the miles for both divisions of the Harriman only to get caught at the wire in twice.

Donato Hanover, who sold for $95,000 as a yearling, was mid-track wide but still caught Strive For Perfect, driven by Remmen. Driven by Pierce and trained by Steve Elliott, Donato Hanover now has one win and one third in two starts. The son of Andover Hall- D Train races for David Scharf, Paul Bordogna’s Golden Touch Stable of Fair Lawn, N.J., and Steven Arnold of Purchase, N.Y.

It was Peyton Way [$9.80, $5.00, $3.20] who nailed the Remmen-driven Rushmore Hanover [$5.00, $3.00] at the wire for a half-length victory in the second split of the Harriman. All but four of the 11 starters broke stride at some point of the mile.

Peyton Way, trained and driven by Jimmy Takter, was making his first start. Christina Takter, John Fielding and David McDuffee own the son of Conway Hall- Noifsaboutit who cost $135,000 as a yearling.

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