Affleck Rebounds; Shanghai Phil Scores

Trainer Blair Burgess knows what it takes to win big money races, and a secret weapon that could take him down that road this season is a pacing colt named Affleck

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The three-year-old, who was unraced as a rookie, celebrated a maiden-breaking win at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening thanks to his narrow score in 1:54. Scott Coulter worked out the winning trip for the lightly-raced performer, who is listed at 110-1 inTrot Magazine's Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.

Affleck, who was a $12,000 purchase from the 2008 Lexington Select Yearling Sale by Robert Burgess and Karin Olsson Burgess, turned in an eye-catching effort in his pari-mutuel debut at Woodbine Racetrack on March 15 when he stormed home in :27 seconds to finish a fast-closing third. One week later, however, he regressed and finished a mediocre fourth.

Tuesday’s 1:54 triumph was a step in the right direction for the hulking son of Real Desire-Actress, who could be a dark horse to keep your eyes on leading up to Canada’s richest race for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

In other Tuesday action at Georgian Downs, Shanghai Phil made the second start of his comeback a winning one for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Dustin Jones. The eight-year-old son of Blissfull Hall-Matter Of Style stopped the clock in 1:53.2 – his first victory since capturing a Breeders Crown elimination on October 16, 2004 during his rookie campaign.

Sent off as the 1/5 favourite in Tuesday’s $10,000 assignment, Shanghai Phil carved out panels of :27.4, :55.4 and 1:24.4 before finishing off his foes with a :28.3 final frame.

Hudson Standardbred Stb Inc of Hudson and Dustin Jones Stables Inc of Melbourne, QC share ownership on the seven-time winner, who has banked $575,122 to date.

To view Tuesday’s results, click here.