Quick Tip may not be the most talented filly or mare that Neil Howard has trained, but few have been more consistent and honest. Those qualities are reason enough for Howard to hope for a big finish to the racing career of the 5-year-old daughter of Unaccounted For. She will make what is likely to be the final start of her career in Saturday's $150,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs.
"She's been a real sturdy, consistent, honest filly," Howard said. "I believe this will be her last race. You never know, but she definitely is going to be bred this season. I would say this would probably be her last race."
Quick Tip won last year's renewal of the Cardinal, giving the turf specialist her first graded stakes victory on the surface and made her a stakes winner on both dirt and turf. She won the Florida Oaks (gr. III) on dirt as a 3-year-old.
Quick Tip will face a talented field in the Cardinal, including Riskaverse and Bien Nicole.
"She's been a little bit overmatched in those grade I's and grade II's," howard said. "But again, she's on a turf course that she likes. And she might get a little bit of give in the ground, which she likes, too. So that will help her."
