LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With just six programs and zero stakes left at the 2019 Ellis Park meet in western Kentucky, attention on this circuit is shifting to upcoming meets at Kentucky Downs and Churchill Downs. The last two stakes at Ellis, both run Sunday for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs, resulted in a sweep by the jockey-trainer team of Tyler Baze and Steve Asmussen while foreshadowing more important action next month. Rowdy Yates won the Ellis Juvenile, earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure, while Green Destiny won the Ellis Debutante in much slower time for a 59 Beyer. Both Asmussen horses can be expected to face stronger competition when the next round of 2-year-old dirt stakes, the Iroquois and Pocahontas, are run as Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In events on Sept. 14 at Churchill. In addition to the return of Kentucky horses from Saratoga, both races could attract newcomers to stakes company, most notably Dennis’ Moment, the Dale Romans trainee who earned a 97 Beyer in a July maiden romp at Ellis. For Baze, the stakes double kept him in the ongoing chase for leading jockey at Ellis, which ends its 28-day meet Sept. 2, while also reaffirming his best intentions in moving here from his longtime California base in April. Baze has ridden first call for Asmussen throughout the Ellis meet, and into Friday’s action, he was tied for second with James Graham with 19 wins, one behind Corey Lanerie (20). “Steve has given me opportunities,” said Baze, a 36-year-old member of the renowned family of jockeys from Washington state. “We’re trying to do the best we can. I’m just very fortunate to be in the position I’m in and enjoying it.” For Asmussen, the Ellis stakes double capped another big weekend and helped boost his career victory total to 8,535 (through Tuesday), second among all North American trainers to the 9,445 amassed by the late Dale Baird. On Saturday, Asmussen was represented at Woodbine by Tone Broke, winner of the Breeders’ Stakes, the third and final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Meanwhile, Lady Glamour returned to her Keeneland base without injury or ailment, said trainer Larry Demeritte, after being eased as the 3-5 favorite in the Debutante. “I don’t want to blame the racing surface because we all ran over the same racetrack,” said Demeritte. “The good news is we checked her out thoroughly and she came out of it healthy and sound. She didn’t bleed. I’m not sure whether we’ll run back in the Pocahontas. Let’s see how she trains.” Huge purses just ahead Nominations for all 14 stakes at the five-day Kentucky Downs meet closed Wednesday as officials at the turf-only track in south-central Kentucky continue with preparations for an onslaught of high-profile action. Dates are Aug. 31 and Sept. 5, 7, 8, and 12. Purses at what is being billed as the Runhappy Meet at Kentucky Downs are projected to average a whopping $2.3 million per day, easily the highest in North America. The top races are the $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup and the track’s first-ever Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In event, the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, both set for Sept. 7. This will be the first Kentucky Downs meet since the sprawling facility was purchased last fall by Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone from a partnership headed by Corey Johnsen.