Customarily a closer, Bettis found the front end to his liking Wednesday at The Meadows when he powered to an early, contested lead and held on late to capture the $22,500 Preferred Trot
.
Aaron Merriman sent Bettis toward the front, where the six-year-old Sierra Kosmos-SJs Shad Roe gelding encountered congestion that parked him in a :27.4 opening quarter before he could take the point. Although his last panel was the slowest of the mile, he had enough to thwart the late charge of the pocket-sitting Diamond Hunter and defeat that rival by three-quarters of a length in 1:57. Caviar Crown rallied from last for show.
David Wade trains Bettis, who has won three of his last four starts, and owns with William F. Peel III and Gerald Brittingham.
(The Meadows)