Dismissed at 8-1, Early Morning Call survived a demanding first quarter as well as a serious late challenge en route to victory in Wednesday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows

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Early Morning Call was parked three-wide in a :28-second opening quarter before making the lead. But when Terry O’Brien gave him a :31.2 second-panel breather, Early Morning Call had just enough to thwart the late rally of TW Little Kosmo and down that rival by a neck in 1:56.3 over a sloppy track. Eagle Dream finished third.

O’Brien and trainer Candy O’Brien own Early Morning Call, a six-year-old Wilson Wyoming-Foxie Frenchie gelding, who extended his career bankroll to $123,209.

(The Meadows)