Dismissed at 28-1, Bettis saved ground, angled off the pylons late and rallied wide to pull off the stunning upset in Monday’s $20,000 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Bettis was among The Meadows’ trotting elite before serious injury sidelined him last year. The seven-year-old son of Sierra Kosmos-SJs Shad Roe had been performing capably in conditioned races before a second-place finish in the Nov. 2 Preferred Handicap.

He did one better Monday for Aaron Merriman, downing Southwind Pepino by a head in 1:54.3. The first-over Fox Valley Smarty was third. David Wade trains Bettis, who now boasts $329,694 in career earnings, and owns with William F. Peel III and Gerald Brittingham.

Dave Palone drove three winners on the 15-race card.

(The Meadows)