Garden District digs deep in Debutante

Twin Creeks Racing Stable's GARDEN DISTRICT (Dixie Union) took a short lead

on the inside turning for home and stubbornly held off a pair of challengers in

earning a half-length tally in the $112,500

Debutante S. (G3)

at Churchill Downs

on Saturday. Trained by Todd Pletcher and piloted by Robby Albarado, the

juvenile miss completed the six-furlong feature in 1:11 at even-money odds and

returned $4.20, $3 and $2.20.

Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) rated in midpack while clear early,

advanced with momentum while wide approaching the final turn and stayed on

gamely while lugging in to earn the place spot at 8-1. The runner-up paid $5.60

and $4.40 while completing the $36.40 exacta. Simplify (Pulpit) moved into the

second spot in the lane and looked like a winner in midstretch, but tired in the

latter stages while missing the place spot by a head. Show was worth $2.80, and

the 3-1 second choice capped the $132.80 trifecta. Corlett (Outofthebox) was

shut off for much of the final furlong and finished an unlucky fourth in here at

nearly 19-1. The filly was on the bottom of the $833 superfecta (4-5-3-1). Renda

(Medaglia d'Oro) was next and trailed by pacesetter Cameron Crazies (Lion

Heart), Songstress (Songandaprayer), Yo Eleven (Yonaguksa), Runaway Heart

(Runaway Groom) and Super Poni (Volponi).

Garden District began her career with a smart, three-length tally over

Keeneland's Polytrack and followed that up with a clear runner-up finish in the

Kentucky S. (G3) versus male counterparts in her last showing. The Kentucky-bred

sports a 3-2-1-0, $130,882 lifetime line.

The winner is out of the Grade 3-placed Brisquette (Unbridled's Song) and has

an unnamed yearling half-brother by Forestry. She was bred by Stonestreet

Thoroughbred Holdings and sold for $240,000 at last year's Keeneland September

sale.