Harness: Magical start to the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for trainer Cory Stratton

Good things come to those who wait is a cliché that may be past tense to most these days, but fortunately the wait and some persistence was what was necessary for owner Ron Buker to finally purchase a horse he was interested in.

"He was trying to buy that horse for two years," said Cory Stratton, the trainer of Idealsomemagic A, a now-9-year-old that made a triumphant debut in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series opening leg at MGM Yonkers Raceway on March 20 and will look to continue his hot streak in the second round this Monday.

"I think it was finally a situation of the owner down there just not having the help necessary to run a racing operation and deciding to let go," said Stratton of the purchase, while pointing to the fact that in 2022 Idealsomemagic A made but six starts.

Stratton gave Idealsomemagic A time to get back into race shape upon his arrival and unleashed the acquisition earlier this year, hoping that the purchase would work out.

"It wasn't until my brother sat behind him before we were ready to qualify that I got any feedback to what kind of horse he was," said Stratton. "Jordan thought he was a top horse."

Cory's driving brother had guided Idealsomemagic A to five consecutive wins racing on the front-end as they climbed the conditioned ladder at Yonkers in January and February before the horse showed up in the Open Handicap on February 27. Then, Jordan had to honor a commitment to last year's Borgata champion Funatthebeach A. In that mile, Idealsomemagic A's winning streak ended with a second-place finish, but the trainer and his brother were still impressed with the results.

"That was a huge effort," said the training Stratton. "It was the first time we took him from off-the-pace and he came home in 27 seconds."

Stratton suggested big money wasn't paid for Idealsomemagic A to bring him to North America, but now that he's arrived, the sky appears to be the limit. With his first-round victory, a 1:52 effort with Idealsomemagic A finishing sharply off a cover trip to chase down American Courage near the finish line, Idealsomemagic A has now won six of his eight starts with a seasonal bankroll of $82,125. The horse went winless in 2022 with less than $8K earned.

"He was a good horse when we got him," said Cory Stratton. "I believe he raced against Lochinvar Art but was probably a step below him." The reference of course to Lochinvar Art A, a horse Idealsomemagic A will eventually face in the Borgata Series, though he avoided the first-leg winner on March 20 and will again race in separate divisions this Monday.

That said, Idealsomemagic A does find the going a bit more intriguing in Monday's second leg, again drawing post five but this time finding some quality competition with origins Down Under in the form of Nandolo N (post two) and Leonidas A (post three). Leonidas A was an impressive winner as well in opening-round action, and Nandolo N provided cover for Idealsomemagic A in the opening leg but may be in for a better trip this week. This seventh race grouping also includes dominant first-leg winner Hellabalou (post six), providing a useful test.

"When it comes to this series, I think it helps to have a horse that is versatile," said Stratton, who currently has a stable of 34 horses at Mark Ford's training center. "He's already showed us that he can leave the gate and race on the front, and with his last two starts was just as good racing from behind. When Jordan popped the plugs in the stretch he took off."

Stratton wasn't sure whether his horse would race in all preliminary legs, but considering the number of divisions in the opening two legs, all systems are go to gain enough points to secure a spot in the final. Stratton is aware of the benefits of piling up points early on with the risks of outside draws compromising a horse's potential to reach the final.

"I think he's going to get better," said Stratton. "It wasn't my intention to miss three weeks before the Borgata, but that's how it worked out because the Open didn't fill. I think he'll be better off that last trip."

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The 2022 season was a breakout year for Stratton and his stable, with the 30-year-old conditioner seeing his horses earn nearly $1.9 million, a figure that was $1 million more than the year before.

"I think the biggest difference is the quality of horses we're racing and the ownership," said Stratton. "I've got great help that includes my wife Victoria, who is a big part of the operation."

Stratton, over the years, has been what most would call a driver-trainer. In 2021 he drove 208 winners with his mounts earning close to seven figures that year. Stratton drove much less in 2022 and appears to be moving away from driving nearly completely this year.

"Now I just drive for fun and to get my mind off of just training horses," Stratton said, while laughing a bit at his 2023 statistics where he is winless in 36 drives. "I think that's more about the horses I've been driving."

For what it's worth, Stratton is more than wise to focus on his budding stable, not just because of the presence of Idealsomemagic A but also the quite potent pacing mare Easy To Please. That mare finished second behind Amazing Dream N in the opening leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker on March 17 and faces her again, along with defending champion Drama Act, in a $40,000 division in round two on Friday (March 24) at Yonkers.

"Last year we were able to race her in the non-winners class to prepare for this series," said Stratton of the now 5-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe. "It's taken a few more starts but I'm happy with where she is right now."

Easy To Please ended her 2022 season finishing ninth in the Breeders Crown as a 4-year-old racing the top mares in the sport, but Stratton suggested they will not go into the race again this year. "I think she's at her best on a half-mile or five-eighths mile tracks. We didn't make her eligible to the Breeders Crown this year," said Stratton, recognizing the value of campaigning a mare of this caliber on a regular basis at Yonkers and other local tracks.

Stratton is looking past the current Yonkers series towards the arrival of a pair of horses to his stable.

"I've got what I hope to be a very nice New York-bred pacing filly in B On The Hunt," said Stratton. "She raced in the Excelsior last year and didn't finish out the year as well as I would have liked. She's training down in Georgia and I'm getting good reports."

Another future Stratton stable horse is currently in quarantine in Chicago with a trainer anxiously awaiting his arrival.

"Ron [Buker] bought a horse off the same connections as Idealsomemagic A," said Stratton about Whats Stanley Got, who should be arriving in New York shortly, with the trainer hoping lightning can strike twice.