Weber is cookin’ with gas at Mahoning Valley

After 13 unsuccessful tries, 12 of them at his home grounds of Indiana Grand, Weber lived up to the name of his dam yesterday, breaking his maiden with an explosion at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Ohio.

The 3-year-old gelding by Handsome Mike is out of the Mineshaft mare Nowurcookinwithgas, and that’s just how to describe Weber’s initial score, which resulted in monster across-the-board payoffs of $157.60, $33.00, and $16.40. It was a tribute to the patience of Michelle Elliott, who is the owner, breeder and trainer of the Indiana-bred gelding.

Renzo Diaz settled Weber in fourth place off the rail down the backstretch in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs, and waited until the turn to ask him for his best. When Diaz said go, Weber fanned six wide into the stretch then left the field behind, cruising to the wire 2 1/2 lengths in front. He became winner No. 38 for Handsome Mike this year.