Hana Hanover showed a lot of heart and courage to battle back after being collared in deep stretch to take home the hardware in this afternoon's $86,300 Allerage Farms Mare Pace at The Red Mile in Kentucky.

In rein to Brian Sears, the O'Brien Award-winning four-year-old daughter of Western Hanover took an early tuck into the three hole while Ideal Weather and Tidewaterdragonfly exchanged punches past a :27 second opening panel.

The latter worked her way to the top, but quickly came under attack from Hana Hanover, who was on the move as the field neared the mid-way point. Hana Hanover went toe-to-toe with Tidewaterdragonfly past that point in :53.3, and they continued to wage war to the three-quarter pole in 1:21.1.

Hana Hanover inched away from Tidewaterdragonfly entering the stretch, but she was joined and overtaken briefly by Ideal Weather. That mare bore in in deep stretch, and when driver Yannick Gingras corrected her it allowed Hana Hanover to re-rally at the rail en route to stopping the clock in 1:49.2.

Ideal Weather held on to finish second in the six-horse affair and Martha Maxine rounded out the top three.

"I was just hoping for a cheque at one point, but I think Brian [driver Brian Sears] hit the afterburners and away she went again," said trainer Mark Steacy. "It is tough to come first up, but she's been gutsy all along and she proved she can do that.

"She's been getting better and better and more mature as the year has come along," he added. "She's as sound as she's even been, we'll race her a few more times and then give her some time off and bring her back next year. Hopefully she can make a little noise."

It was the third win of the season and the 14th lifetime score for the Mark Steacy pupil, who is owned by David Reid, David MacDonald, Stan Klemencic and Dr. Malcolm Man Son Hing. The win boosted the mare's earnings to $817,220.