The public bet Bushwacker off the board in Monday’s $30,000 Preferred Handicap at Dover Downs, and the Chris Ryder pupil honoured his pari-mutuel promise thanks to a 1:50.2 triumph.

Tim Tetrick blasted Bushwacker to the lead from Post 5 and the speedball sizzled through splits of :27.1, :54.4 and 1:22.2 before using a :28-second closing panel to win by three-quarters of a length over Doctor Butch. Dapper Dude was third.

It was the third win of the season in four attempts for the five-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Dolphins Can Talk, and the lion’s share of the loot lifted his lifetime earnings in excess of $400,000. Bushwacker paid $2.80.

Mustang Art chalked one up for the longshot players thanks to his 16-1 stunner in the $27,500 Delaware Special.

Sean Bier cut the opening quarter in :26.3 with the James Mc Guire trainee before yielding to the pocket spot behind a revved-up Captive Audience. The odds-on favourite motored through middle panels of :54.2 and 1:22.2, but he couldn’t seal the deal. Mustang Art re-rallied and used his :27.4 closing speed to fend off a late-closing Bad Boy Matt by a head in 1:50.2. Captive Audience was a bang-up third.

It was the second straight score for the nine-year-old son of Artiscape-Paula Seelster, who races for Delaware owners Max Walton and Gregory Papaleo. It was the 42nd career tally for the classy campaigner who is closing in on $700,000 in lifetime earnings.