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Filly Ria Antonia long shot in Preakness

By WTOP Staff

DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maybe it’s because she’s a girl among boys. Perhaps it’s because the horse hasn’t won in 10 months, or ever attempted a race this long.

Whatever the reason, Ria Antonia is the long shot in the 10-horse Preakness field, a whopping 30-1 underdog behind 3-5 favorite California Chrome, the Kentucky Derby winner.

“I wish she was 50-1,” co-owner Ron Paolucci said of Ria Antonia. “The way she works and trains, she thinks she’s 3-5.”

After finishing sixth in the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago, Ria Antonia will attempt to become the first filly to win the Preakness since Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Paolucci isn’t guaranteeing a victory Saturday, but he expects his 3-year-old to be right there.

“She’s as fast as any horse in the race,” Paolucci insisted. “She worked with all of (Hall of Fame trainer) Bob Baffert’s horses and she more than held her own. She’s a great work horse. Has she translated that every race? No. But she has the ability. Can she beat California Chrome if he runs as good as he did in the Derby? No. Would it be embarrassing to run second if California Chrome runs freakishly good again? No. We’re not planning on being that far out of it.”

Paolucci likes the way his horse rebounded from the May 2 race at Churchill Downs, so he thought it would be a good idea to enter the Preakness.

“I’m not looking forward to running against California Chrome, but if I have to do it, I want to do it on two weeks (rest),” he said. “She’s ready to go, she’s kicking down the barn. I think it’s right up her alley. If she runs half as good as she trains, I wouldn’t want to trade with anybody.”

Ria Antonia will be ridden by Calvin Borel, who was replaced on Ride On Curlin by Joel Rosario. Ride On Curlin and General a Rod are the only two horses from Derby who went to Pimlico for a rematch with California Chrome.

California Chrome drew the No. 3 post, which wasn’t perfect but not a huge disappointment.

“Three is fine with me,” 77-year-old trainer Art Sherman said. “Most of the speed is on the outside of me. If they go they go, I can tuck in right behind them without any problems. I look for a good race. I think my horse will perform at the Preakness.”

Less than 20 feet away in the same room, Paolucci explained why Sherman and California Chrome jockey Victor Espinoza should be worried.

“From where he drew it’s going to be very interesting how Espinoza rides because you’re not going to want to get trapped down inside when Social Inclusion is on the lead,” Paolucci said. “Bayern is going to be out there. There’s no easy spot for Victor. It’s not going to be as easy as the Derby.”

Social Inclusion, the speed horse in the field, is the second-favorite at 5-1. Ride On Curlin and Bayern are 10-1; Dynamic Impact is 12-1; General a Rod is 15-1; and Kid Cruz, Pablo Del Monte and Ring Weekend are 20-1.

Then there’s Ria Antonia.

“Let’s put it this way,” Paolucci said, “if my filly comes out of the gate, I think the only reason she might not win the race is because of the distance.”

The race is 1 3/16-miles, longer than any race Ria Antonia has ever run.

If California Chrome wins, next up would be the Belmont Stakes on June 7. Only 11 horses have swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont and none since Affirmed in 1978.

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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