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Wicked Strong wins Jim Dandy at Saratoga

By WTOP Staff

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Wicked Strong took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist by 2 1/4 lengths Saturday in the Grade 2 $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course.

Ridden by Rajiv Maragh, the 3-year-old son of Hard Spun ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.16 on the fast main track and paid $6.40, $3.10 and $2.40.

“He kind of put it all together today and put on a good performance,” Maragh said. “He was very aggressive today, he put me in the race which I was happy about. Tonalist made a bold move and I thought, ‘It’s going to be a good horse race.’ … Wicked Strong dug in and found extra and pulled away at the end.”

Jimmy Jerkens trains Wicked Strong for Centennial Farms.

“This is great. This is really great,” Jerkens said. “The way he works, I don’t think Secretariat worked any better than this horse does in the morning. I know the talent’s there. It’s just getting him to put it all together. … I think he showed a lot of class today.”

Tonalist, the 4-5 favorite in a field of six, returned $2.50 and $2.10.

It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to late-running Kid Cruz, who paid $2.50 to show. He was followed by Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve, Ulanbator and Legend.

Wicked Strong has two victories in six starts this year, including fourth-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. He earned $360,000 to push his total to $1,244,610.

It was the second victory in two days for a Jerkens-trained 3-year-old, giving him a pair of options for the centerpiece of the Saratoga meet, the $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23. On Friday, V.E. Day won the $100,000 Curlin in his stakes debut, going 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.51.

“We’re going to think that way, that’s for sure,” Jerkens said of possibly running both colts in the Travers. “A big race like that, a mile and a quarter, you’ve got to try it. Tracks are different every day, but (V.E. Day) ran a second slower than Wicked Strong which isn’t bad. He has improved in leaps and bounds with each race. Those kinds of horses usually have a lot of quality.”

In the co-feature, Coup de Grace won the Grade 2 $200,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-old sprinters by three lengths. Ridden by Rosie Napravnik, Coup de Grace ran six furlongs in 1:15.32 and paid $5.70, $3.50 and $2.40. C. Zee returned $5.70 and $3, and favored Captain Serious paid $2.40 to show.

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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