Call Me Maverick romps in Buffalo feature

Bangor, Maine … The cream rose to the top on Sunday (June 2) as Call Me Maverick (Western Maverick), a divisional track record holder at Bangor Raceway, returned to one of his favorite harness racing venues, claiming the top spot in the $5500 feature race event at the Queen City Oval, while gathering in the laurels for the 30th time in his storied career.

Undefeated in Maine Sire Stakes competition as both a two-and-three-year-old, the now five-year-old calmly went about his business on Sunday with driver Michael Stevenson biding his time off the car before rushing the local celebrity to the top just past the eighth-mile-marker. From that point on, the daunting duo maintained a defiant 1-1/2 length margin as they marched to the half in a nondescript :58 before exploding through a devastating back-half of 56.4 to claim the five-length margin timed in a seasonal best 1:54.4.

The clocking earned Call Me Maverick co-bragging rights along with Lord Magnetic (Aaron Hall) for the fastest miles recorded at Bangor Raceway thus far during the 2024 season.

Trained by Alison Hynes for the Upland Farm, the native son was heavily backed by the punters, returning dimes to dollars at $2.20 to win. Gold Star Spider (Heath Campbell) rallied for the runner-up placing while Grand Galop Semalu (Dan Deslandes) finished third.

CALL ME MAVERICK REPLAY

In other Bangor news, driver Heath Campbell held the hot hand during the Sunday morning program, teaming three winners around his home track oval while current top-stick, Dan Deslandes added two more wins to his meet leading total.

On the conditioners’ side of the tally sheet, Valerie Grondin sent a pair of winners to the post on Sunday as Heath Campbell piloted both Mocha On The Rocks (1:58-$17.00) and Pembroke Ideal BJ (1:57.3-$2.40) to back-to-back victories.

Live harness racing is proudly featured at Bangor Raceway throughout the summer season every Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) with the Sunday morning matinees going to post bright and early at 11:00 a.m. Simulcast wagering is available daily in the grandstand facility.

For those not able to come to the track, wagering and live video on Bangor Raceway, as well as hundreds of harness and thoroughbred racetracks across the world, is available on Hollywood Races.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway