Well-matched field in Scarlet and Gray Handicap

The $75,000 Scarlet and Gray Handicap for Ohio-bred fillies and mares on Saturday at Thistledown drew a field of just five, but the small group is very well matched, ranging from 2-1 to 6-1 on the morning line.

Defending winner Proper Discretion is the morning-line favorite for the Scarlet and Gray for owner Ron Paolucci and trainer Anthony Rini. The 5-year-old mare, who is approaching a half-million in earnings, won last year’s Scarlet and Gray by a neck. Proper Discretion then won the Diana Stakes over La Nina Bronca before making a foray into the deep end of open company, finishing 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

This year, Proper Discretion won the J. William Petro Memorial Handicap at Thistledown, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 75, the field’s top number this season. She then finished eighth in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap and fourth in the Pay the Man Stakes at Thistledown last out.

La Nina Bronca finished fourth in last year’s Scarlet and Gray, and Ali Blue finished fifth, and both are back for more this year.

Second choice La Nina Bronca is looking for her first stakes victory after five stakes placings. She most recently finished fifth in the Vivacious Handicap at Belterra Park for trainer Larry Smith.

The two favorites bookend this small field, with La Nina Bronca breaking from the rail under Christian Pilares and Proper Discretion landing in post 5 with Ricardo Feliciano in the irons. Proper Discretion typically races on or near the lead. La Nina Bronca most often comes from off the pace, but two starts back she won an allowance race in wire-to-wire fashion, and she may need to use that speed from the inside.

Striking Lass is making her stakes debut but is in career form since being claimed by James McDonald. She has won five straight races this year, all at Thistledown.

Southern Mischief won last year’s First Lady Stakes at Mahoning Valley. Stakes-placed Ali Blue has won two allowance-level events at Thistledown. Her Beyer of 74 in the most recent is the top last-out number in the field.