Atta Boy Dan survived a first-over journey en route to a narrow triumph in Monday’s $36,000 Open Preferred Handicap for pacers at Dover Downs.

With Andrew McCarthy at the lines, Atta Boy Dan snuck into an early four-hole while Mustang Art roared to the lead and threw down an opening quarter in :26. Mustang Art was still in command at the half in :55, but Atta Boy Dan was on the move from first-over. Those two battled into the backstretch and to the three-quarter pole in 1:22.3. Atta Boy Dan used a :27.3 closing quarter to hold off a late-rushing Phil Your Boots by a nose in 1:50.1. Doctor Butch came on late to be a lapped-on third.

Ron Burke trains the seven-year-old son of Western Terror-Dropitlikeitshot for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The 39-time winner owns a 2-1-1 record from six starts this season. The lion’s share of the purse bumped his overall cash stash to $519,592.