Proper Discretion proves best in Scarlet and Gray Handicap

Favored Proper Discretion wore down stablemate Katalust in deep stretch to win the $75,000 Scarlet and Gray Handicap for Ohio-bred fillies and mares on the holiday Monday card at Thistledown.

Proper Discretion ($2.40), who was returning home after finishing eighth in the De La Rose Stakes on the Saratoga turf, was the lone prior stakes winner in the field for the Scarlet and Gray, and handed Katalust her first loss at Thistledown. Both fillies are trained by Anthony Rini for Ron Paolucci.

Katalust broke sharply from the inside post in the six horse field under Ricardo Feliciano and quickly took command through the opening quarter in 22.66 seconds. Proper Discretion was unhurried as she broke from post 5 under Luis Colon, and had joined her stablemate, just a head back, through the half in 45.86. The two battled the length of the stretch, with Proper Discretion poking her head in front in the final stages and prevailing by a neck at the wire. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:10.46.

It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Orientate to Luv, who nosed out La Nina Bronca for third.