Jim Larente, right, driving Roca Suave leads Mitchell Small driving Green Jeans down the stretch Saturday during the Daisy Black-Austin Memorial Sprint at the Aiken Harness Races. Larente won the race. CHRIS THELEN/STAFF

Small drove his standardbred horse, Michael's Fortune, to victory in the Aiken Coca Cola Race with a lap time of 2:01, the second fastest of the day. It was Small's second trip to the winner's circle Saturday and the fifth top three finish for one of his 10 horses.

About 4,000 people turned out for the sun drenched event at McGhees' Mile Track, which included eight races. The day was the third jewel of Aiken's Triple Crown horse races. Proceeds will benefit the University of South Carolina Aiken's athletic department.

As for the final race, Small was late after winning the previous contest. The victory stalled his preparations for the final go round, he said.

The sprint around the mile dirt track was close until about half way, when Small and Michael's Fortune left the other five horses.

"I just called on him and he went back to pacing" Small said. "It was a good day."

Michael's Fortune has earned more than $125,000 racing at events in New York and New Jersey, where purses are much larger, Small said. Winners of Saturday's races took home $1,000.

Owner Max Willis was arguably as successful as Small. The man from Fountain Inn, S.C., placed seven horses in the top three, including three wins and the fastest time of the day, 1:59.

Willis said he uses the Aiken Harness Race to prepare his horses for bigger events. He brought 12 horses in all.

"It gets the 2-year-olds used to the crowd noise," he said. "It's a big deal for us."

Willis' horses, Carolina Valley, Carolina Sunshine and Carolina Cameron, were all winners.

Reach Josh Gelinas at (803) 279-6895 or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.