It's been another strong year for trainer Cory Stratton and he hopes to close out December on a high note, racing four from his 35-horse stable on Friday and Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Stratton's barn has grown with imports gaining major traction over the last two years, and the near-$400K winner in 2023 Idealsomemagic A proving to be one of the better Open performers throughout the year. For the weekend, Stratton will race one horse on Friday and three on Saturday night with hopes for big results. Starting on Friday in race two, Stratton was more subdued in his comments about Love The Blues N (post eight), who dips to the Track Master rating 71 looking for just his second win of the year. "He's a bit of a goofball," said Stratton of the 9-year-old import. "Jordan [Stratton] tried to take him off the pace and that didn't work out," said Stratton, acknowledging his brother's battle with an obstinate horse. "I think we'll try to get him more forwardly placed this week." Love The Blues N, despite his lack of wins in 2023, has defeated $30,000 claiming types in recent history and Friday's class is significantly below that level. On Saturday night, Stratton is looking forward to the third start in the U.S. for the recently imported Lyrical Genius A. "We got him four or five months ago and he's been super," said Stratton of the 6-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere. "He raced great in his first start and was even better last time." Lyrical Genius A (post eight) will look to capture the $15,000 Play Meadowlands final carded as the second race for Stratton. "He was a Grade 1 winner," said Stratton of the horse's history in Australia. "We expected him to be a non-winners of $20,000 (last five) horse over at Yonkers, and thus far he looks that good." Lyrical Genius A will get tested with the outside draw as the field includes some classy veterans, most notably It's In The Stars (post four), who lands inside of Lyrical Genius A this week following a game first-over grind on December 9. Conboyville looks for his second straight win at the $15,000 claiming level in race five on Saturday for Stratton and the 7-year-old could repeat. "I knew after I drove him in that first start back [December 2] that he was ready for a big mile," said Stratton, who conveyed the message to his brother. Jordan guided Conboyville to a 1:51 4/5 victory last Saturday [December 9]. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter While Stratton has degrees of admiration for many of his horses, he's fixated on one for helping him reach the level his stable has in the last two years. "I'd say that Easy To Please is the reason we have been able to upgrade and buy better stock," said Stratton. "Our Three Sons Stable had faith in sending her to us and her success has led the way." Easy To Please, a 5-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe, had an impressive 4-year-old campaign in 2022 with earnings of $233K. This year has not produced the same results, with just $67K banked as the year closes out. "I think those races she had to battle with the likes of Test Of Faith took a toll on her," said Stratton of the 5-year-old campaign of Easy To Please. Still, Stratton was more than encouraged by Easy To Please's victory at Yonkers on December 8. "I'd say that was her best race of the year by far." Easy To Please scored in 1:54, just her second win in 19 tries this year but enough to lay the foundation for a solid winter campaign. "We're going to race her at the Meadowlands for the next four or five weeks and maybe she'll be good enough to nominate to the Blue Chip Matchmaker," said Stratton. Easy To Please drew post eight in a $23,000 Fillies & Mares handicap carded as race 10. Stratton expects to campaign many of his horses at the Meadowlands in the next month with Yonkers dark, and that means that Idealsomemagic A is likely to see action over the mile track. "He's a 9-year-old and I don't want to stop with him," said Stratton. "I race him a couple of times a month if the races fill." Whats Stanley Got A is another that will be shipping to The Big M for action in the coming weeks. "He won last night at Yonkers [December 12], and I think that was one of his better races for me," said Stratton of the import that has raced at Open levels at Yonkers since arriving in his stable this year. Perhaps another "Open type" will emerge as Stratton will qualify Brutallyhandsome A on Saturday. "The same guy that recommended Idealsomemagic and Whats Stanley Got thought that Brutallyhandsome could be a better horse," said Stratton. "We'll see." Brutallyhandsome A will qualify at the Meadowlands this week.