Racing in the United States was a good fit for the Irish-bred filly Santa Barbara in the summer of 2021. By the time she arrived in New York for her American debut in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational in early July, Santa Barbara had experienced a bumpy start to the season in Europe. Wins in the Belmont Oaks on July 10 and the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes against older fillies and mares on Aug. 14 at Arlington Park restored her reputation and led Santa Barbara to be named one of the three finalists for the 2021 Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding turf female as well as champion 3-year-old filly. Sadly, Santa Barbara was euthanized in September after sustaining a pelvis injury. Owned by the powerful Coolmore partnership and trained by Aidan O’Brien, Santa Barbara began the 2021 season with a single race of experience – a win in a maiden race at a mile at The Curragh in September 2020. Santa Barbara, a daughter of Camelot out of Senta’s Dream bred by Whisperview Trading Ltd., was winless in her first three starts in Europe in 2021, racing at the highest level in May and June. :: Full list of 2021 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories In her 3-year-old debut in the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas Newmarket in May, Santa Barbara was the 5-2 favorite, but finished fourth, 1 1/4 lengths behind stablemate Mother Earth. Santa Barbara was again overshadowed by an O’Brien-trained runner when she finished fifth in the Group 1 English Oaks on June 4 at Epsom Downs. Snowfall won the Oaks by 16 lengths, with Santa Barbara closing from the back in a field of 14. Santa Barbara had a better result in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes against older fillies and mares at The Curragh on June 27 in Ireland, finishing well to miss by a neck to Thundering Nights, trained by O’Brien’s son, Joseph. That was Santa Barbara’s final loss of the year. In the Belmont Oaks at 1 1/4 miles, Santa Barbara was the 6-5 favorite and was once again ridden by her regular rider, Ryan Moore. In a field of eight, Santa Barbara raced in traffic in early stretch, but burst to the front in the final furlong to win by a half-length over Con Lima. “She’s got class,” Moore told the press. “She’s got ability. She won without me moving a muscle.” Moore said he did need a bit of good fortune in the stretch to guide Santa Barbara to the lead. “We’re lucky we got out in time,” he said. A month later, Santa Barbara was sent to Chicago where she recorded the most convincing win of her career in the Beverly D. Stakes at 1 3/16 miles. Santa Barbara closed from third in a small field of five to win by three lengths under a hand-ride by Moore. O’Brien announced in September that Santa Barbara had suffered a pelvis injury. Her condition rapidly worsened, and she could not be saved.