Parked the opening quarter, Bettis had just enough to hold off the hard-charging Outdoor Action and earn his third consecutive victory

- the fifth in his last six starts - in Thursday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Assigned post 8, Bettis moved right for the lead but had to work hard for Aaron Merriman to clear Outdoor Action, who settled into a comfortable pocket. Outdoor Action attacked in the Lightning Lane but fell a nose short of Bettis, who prevailed in 1:56 over a “good” track. Springboard was a rallying third.

David Wade trains Bettis, a six-year-old son of Sierra Kosmos-SJs Shad Roe who now boasts $212,722 in career earnings, and owns with William F. Peel III and Gerald Brittingham. It was one of three wins on the 13-race card for Merriman.

Elsewhere on the program, 2005 Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo made his second start of 2011 in a conditioned event, fronting the field until the stretch where he tired and finished third for trainer/driver Roger Hammer.

(The Meadows)