A generation ago, Rob O’Connor was the leading trainer at Ellis Park, tying Bernie Flint with 12 winners at the 1991 meet. Echoes of those glory days were sounded last Sunday when O’Connor sent out Flashy Chelsey to a hard-fought victory in a $37,200 turf allowance. Flashy Chelsey “is a good horse,” said O’Connor, adding that the 4-year-old colt will run back Sept. 11 at Kentucky Downs in a $75,000 qualifier for the Dec. 3 Claiming Crown Emerald at Gulfstream Park. O’Connor, 57, has three children with his wife, Laurie. Their middle son, Rocco, recently began working for Equibase as a chart-caller while also serving as agent for jockey Marlon St. Julien, who won the Groupie Doll Stakes on Aug. 6 aboard Innovative Idea. ◗ Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. sees a pattern here. After riding first-time starter Awesome Express to victory Sunday at Ellis for trainer Neil Howard, he said: “The last two horses I won on first time out for Neil were Eagle and Ahh Chocolate,” both 4-year-olds who have gone on to win multiple graded stakes. Awesome Express, a Florida-bred 2-year-old filly, earned a 64 Beyer Speed Figure in the 5 1/2-furlong race. “Neil seemed to like her quite a bit,” said Hernandez. “She ran real impressive, gutted it out, and ran big. It looks like her future is bright.” ◗ Walkabout earned an 88 Beyer in a first-level allowance romp last Saturday at Ellis, as the 3-year-old daughter of the noted broodmare Arlucea continues to make steady progress. Walkabout, by Stroll, is a half-sister to 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Fort Larned. Arlucea is out of the great Bayakoa. The Whitham family of western Kansas has raced the entire equine family. Ian Wilkes, who trained Fort Larned, also is the trainer of Walkabout, who now has won two of six starts. ◗ When trainer Chris Hartman swept the early double last Sunday at Del Mar with Royal Flush Babe and Emmett Park, it was old hat: Hartman also doubled the previous day at Ellis with Clever Now and First Heritage in lower-level claiming races. Hartman, 43, is in his second year based primarily in Kentucky. His wife, Hillary, stayed behind to oversee the local string at Churchill Downs while Chris took their best horses out west for the Del Mar meet. ◗ With just seven programs remaining at the 30-day Ellis meet, the jockeys’ race continues to be very tight. Into Friday, Corey Lanerie leads with 19 wins, with six riders within five wins. Steve Asmussen leads Wilkes by a 12-10 count atop the trainer standings. ◗ The finals of the ever-popular wiener-dog races are Saturday at Ellis. The best horse races Saturday are a pair of $39,000 allowances. First post daily is 12:50 p.m. Central through Sept. 5. Saturday morning marks the final “Making of a Racehorse” program of the meet.