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Preakness predictions in race for the Triple Crown

By Chris Cichon

WASHINGTON — Just up I-95 in Baltimore, the second leg of the race for the Triple Crown gets underway Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

Unlike the Kentucky Derby, which featured 21 horses racing for victory, the Preakness Stakes features just eight colts, one gelding and a filly.

Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome may have had the slowest time for a winner at Churchill Downs since 1974 at 2:03:66. Despite that, he won his last race handily and the field on Saturday is one of the more mediocre in a while.

Here’s how I see the 139th Preakness Stakes playing out on Saturday:

Win: California Chrome

This Kentucky Derby favorite delivered at Churchill Downs, building a comfortable lead mid-stretch en route to his fifth victory in a row. Five Kentucky Derby winners have won the Preakness in the past dozen years, and Chrome comes into this weekend as the 3-5 favorite. The only worry about California Chrome at the moment is a small blister in the back of the colt’s throat which has caused a cough. However, trainer Art Sherman said Thursday that he was “relaxed” and “he’s perfect.”

You’ll have to include him in a trifecta or superfecta if you really want to win some coin with this horse at the top, but he’s too good to be left off your card.

Place: Social Inclusion

This bay colt never made it to the Kentucky Derby, as he has just three career races under his belt, including a third place finish in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on March 5. The speed demon has a wealth of talent, and his 85-year- old trainer Manny Azpurua expects him to make California Chrome uncomfortable.

He’s battled a bruised foot which could hamper his chances, but as long as he’s healthy and the track conditions at Pimlico are solid, I think he keeps it within a length or two at the end with California Chrome.

Show: Kid Cruz

For starters, Kid Cruz is the only horse out of the ten who has raced at Pimlico before, winning the Federico Tesio Stake last month. Not to mention winning the nine-furlong Private Terms in Laurel by four lengths. So, needless to say, he’s got the home court advantage on Saturday. Kid Cruz’s trainer Linda Rice is just the 15th woman to command a horse at Preakness, and her colt has one of the lowest odds to win at 20-1 entering Saturday.

I’ll take those odds in my trifecta!

Dark Horse: Dynamic Impact

At 12-1 odds, if you want to place a wager on a horse to win outright, Dynamic Impact’s odds make him an attractive choice The colt overcame a slow start to his racing career after needing five tries to finally earn a victory, which came at the Illinois Derby in April. Dynamic Impact now brings a two-race winning streak to the gate and just seems to get better with every start. The distance of the Preakness shouldn’t be an issue, as his stalking style should work to his advantage with plenty of speed at the front of the pack.

Big Chee’s Card:

$1 Superfecta Box 3-8-7-1

$3 Trifecta Box: 3-8-7

$10 to Win: #1

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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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