Cutacorner fires bullet for Rebel Stakes

Cutacorner worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.80 seconds Friday at Oaklawn. The allowance winner is being pointed for the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel Stakes here March 19, said trainer Jack Van Berg.

“He worked awful good,” Van Berg said.

Cutacorner breezed after the renovation break under jockey Alex Birzer. Oaklawn clockers had him galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40.

Van Berg ranks sixth in the current standings at Oaklawn, with the barn having won nine races from 52 starts through Thursday.

“I’m getting a good stable built up and will probably go to Kentucky,” Van Berg said of plans after Oaklawn.

Van Berg made some noise on North America’s list of all-time leading trainers last week when he moved into fourth place behind the late Dale Baird, overtaking the still-active King Leatherbury. He moved up on the list with Cy Seven’s win at Sam Houston on Feb. 26, which was career victory 6,465 for Hall of Famer Van Berg.

Bird of Trey works for Servis

The stakes-winning 3-year-old Bird of Trey, who is part of a small division of horses that trainer John Servis has at Oaklawn, breezed here Friday. He went five-eighths in 1:01.20 under Ricardo Santana Jr.

“It was an easy five-eighths, just maintenance,” Servis said.

Servis said plans for Bird of Trey will be determined after he talks with the horse’s ownership group, JRita Young Thoroughbreds.

Servis is enjoying a big winter with the undefeated 3-year-old filly Cathryn Sophia, who is based at Gulfstream Park. Servis said Friday she has been nominated to the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy at Oaklawn. He said he likes the timing of the April 9 race. Servis said race plans are still to be determined for the filly and noted that Cathryn Sophia also has been nominated to the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.