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California Chrome has throat blister and cough

By WTOP Staff

MIKE FARRELL
Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) — If Art Sherman has one worry about California Chrome, it’s the colt’s health.

The Kentucky Derby winner coughed a few times on Thursday, the result of a small blister in his throat that itches.

Alan Sherman, Art’s son and assistant trainer, said the blister appeared before the Derby and is being treated with a glycerin throat wash.

“After he ran in there, it came back a little bit,” Alan Sherman said. “It’s not a big deal at all.”

That didn’t prevent chatter that something was wrong with California Chrome and could affect his status for Saturday’s Preakness.

Sherman Racing Stables responded on Twitter, saying, “Chrome is fine. Vet stopped by to scope him and draw blood. Blood came back perfect. He is eating/acting normal.”

California Chrome visited the Pimlico starting gate Thursday, another step in making sure he is comfortable with his surroundings.

“He just walked in there and relaxed,” Art Sherman said. “There were a couple guys from Churchill Downs that were working on him. They knew him. He’s perfect.”

Ideally, every horse is pointing squarely at the racetrack when the gate springs open. California Chrome tends to rock side-to-side in the gate and that can leave him slightly off-balance when the bell rings.

“Sometimes he’ll get off just a shade slow,” Sherman said. “That can mean a length or two leaving there. That means you have to ride a different kind of race.”

___

THE WAIT: The owners of Pablo Del Monte declined a late invitation to join the Derby field.

The Preakness will determine if the wait paid off.

Pablo Del Monte was 21st on the list of horses eligible for the 20-horse Derby field. He moved into the field when Hoppertunity was scratched with a foot injury, but would have had to start from the far outside post.

The offer was rejected.

Two weeks later, Pablo Del Monte is in the Preakness as a 20-1 shot. He will break from the No. 9 post.

“Well, I like nine better than the 20,” breeder, trainer and co-owner Wesley Ward said.

Pablo Del Monte set the pace in his latest effort, finishing third over the synthetic track at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes.

Ward feels the five-week gap since the Blue Grass gives his horse a chance against California Chrome.

“If you ever want to take on a Kentucky Derby winner, it’s when he’s coming back on short rest like these two weeks,” he said.

Jerry Sanchez will be aboard.

___

ALL HERE: Ring Weekend arrived Thursday after a short van ride from the nearby Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland.

He was the last of the 10 Preakness runners to report to Pimlico.

Ring Weekend, a chestnut gelding, is 20-1 on the morning line. He won the Tampa Bay Derby in early March and most recently was second in the Calder Derby for trainer Graham Motion.

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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