Skip to main content

California Chrome gallops in slop on Preakness eve

By WTOP Staff

MIKE FARRELL
Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) — A driving rainstorm couldn’t deter California Chrome from an easy gallop in the slop on the day before the Preakness.

Despite the miserable weather, trainer Art Sherman stuck to the schedule he had mapped for the Kentucky Derby winner. California Chrome went out early for a jog on a gloomy Friday morning for a routine tour of the Pimlico strip.

Like the other Preakness contenders, California Chrome was sent to the center of the track, avoiding the deep and muddy rail.

“I was impressed. He seemed to handle the track perfect,” Sherman said. “He’s a California-bred, so he doesn’t often see those conditions.”

Sherman would love to bottle some of the Baltimore rain and take it home to Southern California where wildfires are raging.

“Where I live is about 25 miles from where the big fires are right now,” he said.

The storm cleared the Baltimore area Friday afternoon. With luck, and good drying conditions, there could be a fast track by Preakness post time at 6:18 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

Back at the barn, California Chrome showed no signs of the previous day’s cough, the result of a small blister in his throat.

No one knows the cause of the irritation but Sherman suspects it might be something the horse ate.

“Sometimes they get a little scratchy with a throat blister and it’s not a big deal,” he said. “Sometimes it’s the feed. They don’t digest it really well. I’ll tell you, he ate up everything. His appetite has been good. Maybe he likes those crab cakes.”

___

UNDER PRESSURE: Victor Espinoza, California Chrome’s rider, talked about the pressure of riding the 3-5 favorite in the Preakness.

Having captured the Derby to extend his winning streak to five, California Chrome will be a marked horse with nine rivals gunning to knock him off.

Espinoza’s mission will be navigating a safe and clear trip.

“There is pressure in every race, especially when I was on the favorite in the Kentucky Derby,” Espinoza said. “That was a lot of pressure. Every time you’re on the favorite, everybody is trying to beat you. If California Chrome can handle it, then I can handle it too.”

Espinoza is no stranger to these situations. He won the 2002 Preakness also with a Kentucky Derby winner, War Emblem.

Espinoza, who turns 42 next week, has won over 3,000 races in a career that started in his native Mexico.

Like Art Sherman, Espinoza is most concerned about the two-week gap from the Derby to the Preakness.

“I have confidence in California Chrome,” Espinoza said. “If he’s come back from the Derby and is ready to go, I am ready too.”

____

ALL WET: Trainer Mark Casse picked a fine time to visit Pimlico for the first time, right in middle of Friday’s monsoon.

Casse stopped in to check on Dynamic Impact, his 12-1 Preakness long shot.

The horse arrived in Baltimore on Wednesday in the care of his son, assistant trainer Norman Casse.

Dynamic Impact is an improving colt having won two in a row, including the Illinois Derby. He will break from the rail with Miguel Mena aboard.

The colt is a stalker, one who prefers to sit several lengths behind the leaders.

“I think there is a lot of speed in there,” Casse said of the Preakness. “A lot of times you think that way, and it doesn’t materialize. I think it will happen. I hope he is able to sit right behind the speed.”

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