Coglianese /NYRA Photo Photo

Fire Away blazes in the stretch to win Danger's Hour

by Brian Bohl

Phipps Stable's Fire Away surged in deep stretch, outkicking Projected and even-money favorite Mo Town to capture the fourth running of the $100,000 Danger's Hour on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Fire Away, who ran third to World Approval and Forge last out in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay, stayed off Macagone's fractions of 24.23 seconds for a quarter mile with the half in 47.60. Out of the turn, Mo Town and Secretary At War overtook the tiring pacesetter before jockey Manny Franco set down Fire Away, going three-wide and clearing away by 1 ¼ lengths.

"They wanted to break away from there and get some position," said Franco, who posted his third win of the day. "They didn't want me to rush him early, we knew there was going to be a lot of pace in front of us. So, I just sat quiet and when I thought it was time to make a move, I did it."  

Fire Away completed one mile on an outer turf coursed labeled firm in 1:35.15, improving to 4-for-4 in his career at Aqueduct for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

"I was very pleased with it," McGaughey said. "We thought there was going to be some pace. I thought he [Fire Away] ran really well. It looked like he had horse the whole way and he finished up good. I was pleased with everything.

"He likes a little bit of give in the turf, so I should probably take advantage of that right now," he added. "I'll just kind of look around and see what's available and we'll go from there."

Off at 6-1, Fire Away paid $14.20 on a $2 win wager. The 6-year-old son of War Front won a stakes for the second time in three starts, adding to his one-length score in the Artie Schiller in his last Big A appearance on November 18 and improving his career bankroll to $448,397.

Projected, trained by Chad Brown, finished second in his first start since winning the Grade 2 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup on September 30 at Laurel Park. The English-bred has finished first or second in six of his last seven starts.

Mo Town, who was 2-for-2 since trainer Tony Dutrow moved him to turf, was third in his 2018 debut. The 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt, who won the 2016 Grade 2 Remsen on dirt, ended his 2017 campaign with a win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on November 25 at Del Mar, was 1 ½ lengths clear of Secretary At War to finish on the board under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

"I thought Mo Town was a little aggressive in the first part of the race," Dutrow said. "He was a little closer than Johnny wanted him. He was fighting with Johnny a little bit. And then he settled in and the rest of the race went well for him, and he got a little tired in the last part. He fought. He got back in the groove today, and this was a starting point for him. We're on to Belmont and looking forward to the Man o' War [Grade 1, $700,000 1 3/8 miles, May 12]."

Conquest Panthera, Hit It Once More, Great Wide Open, Macagone and Bolting completed the order of finish. Main-track only entrants Spartiatis and Vulcan's Forge were scratched.