With over 18 years experience in government affairs and stakeholder engagement, Bethany Erb has been appointed to serve as Director of Public Affairs at the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), the organization announced via press release Monday.
In the position, Erb will manage HISA's engagement with policymakers and other stakeholders in Washington, D.C. and around the country, which includes representatives from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as well as the various advocacy groups inside and outside of the industry. Erb's prior positions include within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, and the Land Trust Alliance as well as two appointments to the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council.
“I deeply respect the important work HISA is doing to protect equine athletes, jockeys, and the future of the sport,” said Erb. “Horses and equestrian sports have been an integral part of my life since childhood and I am excited to be part of this organization and help further its mission.”
HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus praised the appointment of Erb, calling her experience with large-scale and local advocacy groups an 'excellent choice' for the position.
“Bethany's experience on Capitol Hill and with leading national-level and grassroots advocacy efforts make her an excellent choice for this role; we are confident that her skills will be invaluable in advancing HISA's mission. She shares HISA's core values and unwavering commitment to the advancement of Thoroughbred racing, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
11th-Kyoto, ¥42,190,000 ($284,065), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1900m, 1:57.4, ft. AWESOME RESULT (f, 4, Justify–Blossomed, by Deputy Minister), a maiden winner in a single juvenile appearance in 2022, was perfect in her three trips to the races last season, including a victory over 2100 metres at Tokyo Nov. 18. A touch unprepared at the break of this 4-year-old return, the bay was accordingly off a half-step slowly and was consigned to the latter third of the field for the run around the first turn. Yutaka Take slipped her some rein and asked her to improve into about midfield down the backstretch, and she sustained that rally to draw closer at the 600-meter pole. Forced to cover significant ground, Awesome Result nevertheless came to win the race a furlong from home and outslugged the SW & G1SP second favorite Hapi (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) to remain unbeaten by 3/4 of a length while in receipt of nine pounds from the runner-up. “I did not ask her for much in the early stages and she had no problem handling the kickback,” said Take. “She responded very well when we turned for home, but she lost a bit of focus when she hit the front. With only five career starts, she has lots of room for improvement.” Gabriel Duignan's Springhouse Farm purchased the unraced Blossomed for $425,000 in foal to Honor Code at the 2018 Keeneland November sale a few months after the mare's 2-year-old daughter Sippican Harbor (Orb, $262,650) upset the GI Spinaway S. at Saratoga. She is also the dam of GSP Bodacious Babe (Mineshaft)–whose daughter Royal Spa (Violence) was second in the American Beauty S. Feb. 3–and Ju Taro (Arrogate), a three-time winner in Japan. Blossomed, a half-sister to Grade III winner Cinemine (Mining), is also responsible for a 2-year-old full-brother to Awesome Result. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, $459,989.
O-Insel Racing; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Yasutoshi Ikee.
Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) was crunched into $1.30 (3-10) favourtism for Sunday's HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, sat a perfect trip beneath Hugh Bowman and raced away late to take the first leg of the 4-year-old series in convincing fashion Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin.
Alertly away from barrier six and carrying the number one saddlecloth signifying the highest-rated runner in the event, the John Size trainee allowed Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) and Helene Feeling (Ire) (Sioux Nation) do the heavy lifting and settled in the ideal spot while a fraction keen through the early exchanges. Poised to strike nearing the entrance to the straight, Helios Express eased out into the three path to deliver his challenge, gathered up Helene Feeling–who had taken over from Chancheng Glory just outside the 200 metres–and kicked home a comfortable winner. Star Mac (Aus) (Heroic Valour {Aus}), rated some 38 points inferior to the winner on 64, ran home gamely for third ahead of a troubled Speed Dragon (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
“It was a slow-run race and he was able to adapt to a very slow tempo, which is a good thing in a racehorse,” said Size. “He was able to overcome that and still win the race. Of this generation of horses, he seems to be the quality horse amongst the ones he's competing against, and it was a very convincing win.”
Size confirmed that Helios Express would move on to the second leg of the series, the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres Mar. 3 and believes his charge will handle the step up in trip without issue.
“There's always some concern because the circumstances of the races can change dramatically from one race to the next,” said Size. “The good horses overcome a different style of running and they win. He has to do that–he has that in front of him.”
For his part, Bowman–who now begins a five-meeting suspension–considers Helios Express an unfinished product.
“The critical side of me says I would have liked for him to settle a bit better in the run, but it was a very sedate tempo which encouraged him to travel the way he did–but that's the sign of an exceptional horse–and when I gave him room and asked him for an effort, that's exactly what we all saw. I'm excited to be riding such a magnificent individual,” Bowman said.
The master trainer, John Size, a dominant force in the Hong Kong Classic Mile!
Helios Express was providing his sire with yet another big result in Hong Kong a week after Victor the Winner (Aus) caused an upset in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup. One of 18 winners in the jurisdiction for the stallion, Helios Express–who was victorious in a single Australian appearance for trainer Jamie Edwards at Benalla in Victoria while racing as Tex Mex (Aus)–is a third to succeed at stakes level (Senor Toba {Aus}). Helios Express is the fourth black-type winner produced by a daughter of Hinchinbrook (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
Paris Texas passed away in September 2021 according to the Australian Stud Book, but has left behind Helios Express's unraced 3-year-old full-sister Isolation Ridge (Aus), who is in training with Lindsey Smith at Linton in Victoria.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE-LR, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-4, NH/SH4yo, 1600mT, 1:34.44, gd.
1–HELIOS EXPRESS (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Toronado (Ire) 1st Dam: Paris Texas (Aus), by Hinchinbrook (Aus) 2nd Dam: Hialeah Star (Aus), by Luskin Star (Aus) 3rd Dam: Hialeah Gold (Aus), by Sovereign Red (NZ) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Andy Yung Ming Tai; B-C Wells (WA); T-John Size; J-Hugh Bowman. Lifetime Record: 8-6-1-1, HK$16,001,660. *Formerly Tex Mex (Aus).
2–Helene Feeling (Ire), 126, g, 4, Sioux Nation–Cynthia Calhoun (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (€15,500 Wlg '20 GOFDEC; 40,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Helene Syndicate; B-A Sherwood & P Connell; T-Danny Shum; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,730,000.
3–Star Mac (Aus), 126, g, 4, Heroic Valour (Aus)–Marma Got Style (Aus), by Wicked Style. (A$15,000 Ylg '21 MMMAR). O-Adrian Hassan; B-D Reynolds (Qld); T-David Hayes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$1,495,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 3-10, 73-10, 45-1.
Also Ran: Speed Dragon (NZ), Beauty Crescent (Ire), Chancheng Glory, Fallon (Ire), Howdeepisyourlove (Aus), Moments In Time (Chi). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing.
R Harper Rose (Khozan) represented her fellow Florida-breds well in Saturday's GIII Forward Gal S. over the Hallandale strip as she dropped the hammer down the lane to win.
The OBS March grad made her debut a winning one as she streaked to a gate-to-wire finish by 6 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park in early August. Stepping into optional claiming company over the same surface Sept. 22, the filly was equally as potent when she won by 5 3/4 lengths.
On her home floor last fall, the bay took on Florida sire stakes company and won going seven furlongs in the Susan's Girl S. Oct. 21, but ran out of steam at a mile and sixteenth as the runner-up in the My Dear Girl S. Dec. 2.
Cutting back and as the 2-1 second choice here, the 3-year-old was content to allow Fiona's Magic (St Patrick's Day) to show the way up the backstretch. R Harper Rose kept close tabs on the leader and around the far turn she was given her cue. With a fluid, sweeping move, she took control at the quarter pole and ran on professionally to collect her first graded stakes win as the early pacesetter was second.
“She's so fast but she can settle, and back doing what she wants to do going one turn,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
“I'm just proud of her today. Everything went right into this race, and she showed it today. Edgar [Zayas] was very patient. They broke well, [Fiona's Magic] wanted the lead and he didn't force the issue. I think the first three-eighths of the race it worked to our advantage. It wasn't a crazy pace.
“This is it for her, one turn. We're not going to experiment. Last time things didn't go right but we're going to keep her to one turn. There's a lot of races for her at one turn.”
Pedigree Notes:
This is multiple leading Florida sire Khozan's fourth stateside graded stakes winner out of six crops of racing age. The winner's dam registered a foal last year when she produced a filly by Leinster, but True Bliss was not bred for this season. Her half-siblings include MSW Cherokee Triangle (Cherokee Run) and GSW Hierro (Hard Spun), who Stonestreet acquired for $350,000 at the OBS Select 2-Year-Old Sale in 2011.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park FORWARD GAL S.-GIII, $145,000, Gulfstream, 2-3, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.34, ft.
1–R HARPER ROSE, 120, f, 3, by Khozan 1st Dam: True Bliss, by Yes It's True 2nd Dam: Brief Bliss, by Navarone 3rd Dam: Annul, by Conquistador Cielo 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($16,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT; $60,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Averill Racing LLC and Two Eight Racing LLC; B-Sally J. Andersen (FL); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Edgard J. Zayas. $86,725. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $344,025. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Fiona's Magic, 120, f, 3, St Patrick's Day–Mollie's Magic, by Factum. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Stonehedge LLC (FL); T-Michael Yates. $30,750.
3–Chi Chi, 120, f, 3, Audible–Simply Confection, by Candy Ride (Arg). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($47,000 RNA Ylg '22 OBSWIN). O-Sam Wilensky; B-France Weiner (FL); T-Herman Wilensky. $16,375.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 2.20, 5.30, 24.30.
Also Ran: Scalable, Nikitis, Witwatersrand. Scratched: Kissedbyanangel. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Sun Jewellery (2016)
Helios Express (2024)
