Watkins rallied off cover to capture the $13,000 Preferred Handicapped Trot during Friday’s live harness racing card at Rideau Carleton Raceway

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Maximum Lindy (Dagfin Henriksen) called the shots in the evening’s feature event, cutting out fractions of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:27.1 with Imminent Response (Reg Gassien) applying first over pressure and Watkins following his cover. Driver Gord Brown sent Watkins wide as they entered the stretch while Imminent Response inched closer to the lead and Maximum Lindy began to tire. Watkins kept Imminent Response in the bridesmaid role as he took over command in the three-path and opened up a length and a quarter to score in 1:56.4. The mile time was two-fifths of a second off his lifetime mark. Strong Hope (Denis St. Pierre) rounded out the top three.

Dr. Peter Johnson trains the four-year-old gelding, a winner of three races in 11 starts this year. The homebred son of Striking Sahbra-Sarong Hall is owned by Idylwood Stables Inc. of Peterborough and Watkins Equine Inc. of Newcastle, Ont. and has banked $33,205 in 2011 for his connections.

Watkins paid $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second choice. Favourite Star Ruffnready, last week’s winner, trailed the field and made a break in the stretch to finish ninth.

The win was one of four in a row on the card for Brown. Stephane Gendron also scored a driving grand slam during the 15-race program.

For results from Friday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.