Santa Barbara (IRE)

Santa Barbara made her American debut in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park on Jul. 10, 2021. In her home country of Ireland, she had finished second in the Group 1 Al Wasmiyah Stud Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh on Jun. 27, for her first career graded stakes placing.

She went off as the 6-5 favorite in the eight-horse Belmont Oaks field, and won despite a difficult trip. She rated off a very slow pace set by early leader Con Lima. As they turned for home, she had plenty of run, but was completely blocked behind horses. In the final eighth, a hole opened up, and jockey Ryan Moore navigated his filly through and struck the lead in the final yards. She crossed the wire half a length in front, covering 1 1/4 miles on the "good" turf course in 2:03.76. It was the second win in the Belmont Oaks for Moore and trainer Aidan O'Brien. They previously won in 2018 with Athena.

Santa Barbara returned to the United States for the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes on Aug. 14 at Arlington. Facing a field of older fillies and mares, she had little trouble with the competition as she drew away int he stretch for another impressive win.