Call Me Maverick returned home to Cumberland and returned to his winning ways, as driver Mike Stevenson gave the Maine Sire Stakes three-year-old male pacing champion of 2021 a coast-to-coast victory in Friday's opener for his trainer Alison Hynes and her partner Gordon Corey.

The five-year-old son of Western Maverick picked up the 24th victory of his career and pushed his lifetime earnings to $247,162 for his Upland Farm owners. In just the third start of the year for the former local hero, the wagering favourite tripped the timer in 1:56.1 to win the opener and pay $2.80 to his many backers. The Bush Man N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished second and Drinka Beer (Andy Harrington) was third in the $6,000 featured conditioned pace.

The $5,500 featured trot was another wire-to-wire romp for Mouthpiece and driver Mark Athearn. Repeating his ‘go to the front and don’t look back’ routine from last week, the eight-year-old son of Noble Venture never had an anxious moment as he strolled home a winner in 2:01 for owner and trainer Gretchen Athearn. He paid $7.60 to win.  Muscle Gene (Aaron Hall) finished second and L Dees Yoyo Ma (Mike Stevenson) was third.

Four drivers enjoyed doubles on the 13-race program, including Walter Case Jr., Dan Deslandes, Aaron Hall and Kevin Switzer Jr.  The first three listed all won back-to-back races, but Switzer Jr. won the fourth and the 13th, which put him at just one victory away from reaching the 3,000 career dash-win threshold.   Switzer Jr. is loaded for bear tomorrow (Saturday) with eight programmed drives.

Saturday’s program carries 12 races and features two $14,684 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, carded as races one and nine. The wagering menu always includes a 50-cent trifecta in every race, as well as the standard collection of lucrative wagers with low 16 per cent takeouts scattered throughout the card. Cumberland will offer Belmont viewing and programs, as well as all the pertinent wagering options every Saturday. First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT).

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)