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Hardest Core wins Arlington Million

By WTOP Staff

MARK PERLMAN
Associated Press

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) — Long-shot Hardest Core ran down favored Magician in the stretch to win the Arlington Million by a length Saturday.

Ridden by Eriluis Vaz, Hardest Core, the 11-1 outsider, came on strong from the outside just after the turn for home.

“I knew he was going to make his run,” Vaz said. “On the last turn I had a lot of horse.”

Magician, the winner of the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf, went off as the favorite at 9-5 odds.

“I had a good trip, no excuses,” Magician jockey Joseph P. O’Brien said.

Magician had a clear lead midway in the stretch, but Hardest Core eased past.

“Words can’t explain what a great feeling this is,” Hardest Core trainer Edward L. Graham said. “He has a good kick and he has a great gallop and he got it done.”

The 4-year-old Hardest Core ran 1 1/4 miles on the turf in 2:01.51 and paid $25, $10.40 and $6. Magician returned $4.20 and $3, and Side Glance paid $5 to show.

Hardest Core is owned by Andrew Bentley Stables. It was Hardest Core’s fourth straight win, the first in graded company. Entering the Million, Hardest Core had accumulated just under $250,000 in career earnings. Magician had earned nearly $2.4 million.

Hardest Core, who had never been entered in a graded stakes race prior to the Arlington Million, nearly died from castration surgery last November.

As for what’s next on the racing docket for Hardest Core, Graham was succinct.

“I have no clue. I’ve got to get over this one first,” Graham said.

The race had seven entrants, matching the lowest total in event history.

Defending champion, Real Solution, trying to become the first back-to-back winner, finished seventh.

“I had a beautiful trip,” Real Soltuion jockey Javier Castellano said. “Unfortunately, he didn’t show up today.”

In the other stakes races at Arlington International Racecourse, Euro Charline charged down the stretch to win the $750,000 Grade I Beverly D. with jockey Ryan L. Moore on board. Stephanie’s Kitten came up late to take second place and Just The Judge was third.

Moore also rode to victory in the $500,000 Grade I Secretariat, beating Tourist by 1 1/2 lengths.

The Pizza Man, with jockey Florent Geroux on the saddle, won the $400,000 American St. Leger by a length.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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