A pair of mid-level conditioned trots worth $15,417 each were the featured events at Batavia Downs on Friday, Aug. 29, and the team of driver Jim Morrill Jr. and trainer Sam Smith won both.

In the first split, Famous Dan overcame post eight to land a 9-1 upset. Morrill sent Famous Dan to the front from the outside and rated a perfect mile from there. With Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) drafting in the pocket, Famous Dan cut fractions of :28.3, :58.2, and 1:28.1 before heading into the homeward turn. He continued to be a strong leader into the stretch and held off Good Boy by a length to win in 1:59.1. Spicy Hops (Dave McNeight III) was third. 

The win was the sixth of the year in 28 starts for Famous Dan ($20.40), who is owned by Mike Torcello. The six-year-old Dover Dan-Silvia gelding is now 19-for-120 lifetime with $236,732 in earnings.

In the second leg, Golden Compass found his way home first for the sixth time this year in 25 outings. Morrill and Golden Compass traded leads with Crazy Ritz (Jim McNeight Jr.) before finally settling on the point past the quarter in :29.1. Positions remained unchanged through the half in :58.1 and to three-quarters in 1:27.1, where Golden Compass and Crazy Ritz separated from the field and made it a two-horse race. Coming off the turn, Crazy Ritz dipped into the passing lane and tried to gain ground on the leader, but Golden Compass gave him nothing to the wire and got there with a 1-1/2-length margin in 1:56.3. Skyway Professor (Justin Huckabone) rounded out the triactor.

Golden Compass ($3.40), a son of Sebastian K S-Zette Angel, is owned by Sierra Smith and Jagged Brook Farms. The seven-year-old is a 27-time winner and has banked $259,784 in 143 lifetime outings.

Morrill and Drew Monti both finished with three driving wins, while Smith led all trainers on the strength of his two feature victories.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday, with post time at 6 p.m. Next week, on Saturday, Sept. 6, Batavia Downs will host the New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions with total purses of $2.4 million USD.

(Batavia Downs)