Teague for two in Wilson

George Teague Jr. has entered two freshman colt pacers in Thursday night’s eliminations for the $410,000 Woodrow Wilson, including two-for-two Mr. Apples and What’s Up Now, whose late break in his last start kept him from being perfect in three outings.

Teague purchased Mr. Apples as a yearling for just $7,000, and recently sold half-interest to Rodney Mitchell. After being parked past the opening quarter, the son of Bettor’s Delight won his Niatross split last week in 1:51.4, making him the fastest 2-year-old pacer in North America in 2006. Prior to that he had won his career debut in a Reynolds division at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in 1:54.1.

“He (won the Niatross) real strong. Ronnie (driver Ron Pierce) just really took his time until the half,” Teague told harnessracing.com. “His mile at Pocono was also a big mile.

Mr. Apples’s biggest competition might come from Artzina, who is trained by Dylan Davis who, like Teague, hails from Delaware. That son of Artiscape has won two of three starts, including a 1:52.4 victory last week in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for driver John Campbell.

“He’s a real nice colt; he’s been impressive in all his starts,” said Teague of Artzina. “Dylan is a good young trainer.”

As for Teague’s What’s Up Now, that son of Western Hanover he also shares ownership in with Mitchell had won his first two starts and was first across the wire in his third in the Niatross, but was taken down for interference caused when he went offstride at the three-quarters while on the lead. It was his second break in the mile, having bobbled just past the start, but Teague believes he knows the reason for the miscues.

“He made two breaks and still won that leg, but he had lost a shoe in the first turn and that didn’t help,” he said. “He kind of hits his knee a little bit.”

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