June 22, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Sheriff N did not allow his outside post to thwart his pursuit for pay dirt as he took matters into his own hands and captured the fastest of two $7,500 divisions of the Portland Pacing Series on Saturday (June 21) at Cumberland Raceway.
Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. the 11-year-old son of super sire Bettor’s Delight ‘lit ‘em up’ when the starting car pulled away and proceeded to make every call a winning one. Reaching the quarter in a snappy :27.4, and the half in a more pedestrian :58.3, it was clear that Sheriff N (8-1) was going to have things his own way.
While maintaining a comfortable margin on the lead with just Forrest Blue (2-1, Aaron Hall) in first over chase, and favorite Dinner Party (4/5, Drew Campbell) poised in the pocket, Switzer let out a notch past the 1:27.1 third panel. Popping the deuce around the final turn, the public’s choice made a valiant effort to catch the pacesetter.
The pair paced stride for stride down to the wire, with Sheriff N capturing the win by a half-length over Dinner Party in 1:56.2, a new seasonal best.
Trained and owned by Zach Vickerson, it was Sheriff N’s third win in a row, and seventh of the season with $21,180 earned. He paid $19.40 to win.
Forrest Blu finished third.
In the second $7,500 Portland split, Always At My Place showed that the front end was holding up on the sunny afternoon program, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:56.3.
Driven by Bruce Ranger for owner-trainer Scott Vickerson, the 14-year-old son of Always A Virgin grabbed his fourth win of the season and 71st of his lengthy career which puts his lifetime bankroll at $1,135,535. He paid $9.80 to win.
Long Weekend A (4-1, McGwire Sowers) finished second; Deal With It Roman (31-1, Dave Ingraham) was third.
Driver Walter Case Jr. enjoyed three wins on the program, and Aaron Hall grabbed a pair. Trainer Benson Merrill harnessed a pair of winners.
For the current Spring/Summer meet, after 22 racing dates, McGwire Sowers leads all drivers at Cumberland with 38 victories, followed by Drew Campbell (29), Nick Graffam (22), Kevin Switzer Jr. (20) and a tie for fifth between Aaron Hall and Case Jr. with 19 apiece.
Autym Sowers is the leading trainer with 26 wins, followed by Benson Merrill with 22 victories.
Live video and replays can be found on the track’s website: firsttrackscumberland.com
Racing at First Tracks Cumberland continues throughout the early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend. First post is always 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.
