Skip to main content

California Chrome training well for BC Classic

By WTOP Staff

MIKE FARRELL
Associated Press

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Alan Sherman couldn’t be happier with California Chrome leading up to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

“Chrome trained like a monster today,” he said Monday. “It’s unbelievable. And it wasn’t just today. It’s been the last few weeks. He keeps getting stronger and stronger. I think he’s coming into the race just as good, if not better, than he was into the Derby and Preakness.”

That could spell bad news for California Chrome’s rivals in the 1 ¼-mile Classic on Saturday, the richest race in North America.

California Chrome was the darling of the racing world in the spring with his Triple Crown bid. The 3-year-old colt with a humble pedigree and a pair of blue-collar owners was a captivating story as he posted convincing wins in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

But it ended with a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. He suffered a hoof injury in the race, sending him to sidelines until the Pennsylvania Derby in late September when he ran sixth.

California Chrome shipped to Santa Anita from his home base at Los Alamitos in Orange County on Sunday and went out at first light Monday for a jog under stout restraint by exercise rider Willie Delgado. Sherman, who assists his 77-year-old father Art, said the serious preparations are already completed. It will be easy gallops from now until race day.

California Chrome is three for four here, including a victory in the Santa Anita Derby that was his springboard into the Kentucky Derby.

Speculation swirled in recent days that the Classic could be California Chrome’s final race. Co-owner Perry Martin reportedly said the horse would head off to stud duty if he does not run well in the Classic.

“I haven’t heard a thing from the owners, other than what I read on Facebook,” Sherman said.

___

FLIGHT DELAY: A cracked windshield scrambled the flight schedules for several Breeders’ Cup runners, including the New York-based contingent of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The plane was forced to make an emergency stop in Lexington, Kentucky, to replace the window. The Belmont Park horses from the barns of Mott and Chad Brown were due to fly out Monday. The repair job delayed their departure until later in the day.

“You get excited but you try to get everyone there in one piece,” Mott said. “Get them on the truck, on the plane, get them unloaded without having them stick a foot through something.”

The Mott contingent includes Cigar Street in the Classic and Close Hatches in the $2 million Distaff on Friday.

___

FANTASY HORSES: Most sports have spawned fantasy leagues.

Why not horse racing?

Registration is open for the “Million Dollar Finish” keyed to the Classic. The prize is $1 million to the fan who can correctly predict the first 10 finishers in the Classic, in exact order. Players can submit their picks up until the post time of 8:40 p.m. EDT Saturday.

Players will also be asked for the final time of the Classic, a guess to be used as a tiebreaker.

No purchase is necessary. Full rules and registration are available at MillionDollarFinish.com.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote