Fire Away persevered under Manny Franco to win the $250,000 Dixie Stakes by a three-quarters of a length over Unbridled Juan at sloppy Pimlico.

It was a half-length back to Just Howard in third. O Dionysus finished last of four.

Heavy rains prompted Pimlico officials to move the Dixie from the turf to the main track especially after the connections of World Approval, Frostmourne and Doctor Mounty told Pimlico officials they were going to scratch regardless of whether the race remained on the turf. Divisidero also scratched.

Due to the surface switch, the Dixie, a Grade 2, was downgraded to a Grade 3 pending review of the North American Graded Stakes Committee.

Fire Away, a 6-year-old son of War Front, had not raced on the dirt since he debuted at Saratoga on Aug. 2, 2014 finishing ninth, 23 1-4 lengths back.

He had since won six of 20 starts on turf including the Danger’s Hour last out at Aqueduct.

In the Dixie, he raced an up close third and was kept inside all the way under Franco as Unbridled Juan set fractions of 24.63 seconds for the quarter, 48.65 for the half and 1:12.20 for six furlongs.

Unbridled Juan received some pressure from Just Howard and then O Dionysus while Franco kept still on Fire Away. In the stretch, Franco got busy on Fire Away and he gradually wore down Unbridled Juan.

Fire Away ran the 1 1-16 miles in 1:43.92 and returned $4.60 as the surprising 6-5 favorite