Grade II Winner Sintra Dead

Sintra, a grade II winner and winner of the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, died in mid-October at Rae Eastwood's Indian Creek near Georgetown, Ky. Eastwood, who privately acquired Sintra three years ago, said the 23-year-old Drone mare had melanoma.

Campaigned as a homebred by Seth Hancock's Cherry Valley Farm and William C. Lickle, Sintra earned $378,604 the hard way. She competed against such stars as Lady's Secret, Princess Rooney, Life's Magic, Lucky Lucky Lucky, Miss Oceana, Heatherten, and Sefa's Beauty.

Sintra captured six stakes, including the Test Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga and the Bewitch Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland. Following her win in the 1984 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup (now gr. IT), Queen Elizabeth herself presented the winning trophy.

Sintra retired from racing in 1985 with nine wins from 19 starts. As a broodmare, she produced 10 named foals, five of which won.

Her 2004 offspring is an unnamed filly by Eastwood's stallion Pleasantprospector. "It was love at first sight," Eastwood said about the mating. "She picked him out over a fence and said 'I want him.' "

Sintra, who was produced from the Misty Day mare Misty Plum, is buried at the farm.