Palace Malice, California Chrome 5-2 Co-Favorites for Horse of the Year; Tonalist, Shared Belief Open at 25-1

Photo by NYRA/Coglinese Photos

NEW YORK CITY (Thursday, July 10, 2014) – Palace Malice, the consensus top older horse in training, has been bet down to 5-2 co-favoritism with dual classic winner California Chrome in Eclipse Awards 2014 Horse of the Year future bet odds listed by William Hill. Both horses last competed on Belmont Stakes Day, with Palace Malice dominating the Metropolitan Handicap (GI) a few races before California Chrome came up short in a historic Triple Crown bid, finishing fourth in the Belmont Stakes (GI).

California Chrome is resting for a fall campaign that could include a prep race before the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. Meanwhile, Palace Malice continues to train like clockwork and is pointing to the Aug. 2 Whitney Handicap (GI) at Saratoga Race Course.

Seven-year-old Wise Dan saw his odds float as high as 12-1 following surgery for colic on May 16. However, the two-time defending Horse of the Year’s supporters have made him 8-1 since returning to training late last month at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

The other Horse of the Year contender in single digits is Mucho Macho Man, 8-1, who was found to have bruised ankles after a fourth-place effort in March’s Santa Anita Handicap (GI). If all goes well this month, Mucho Macho Man will likely prep for a Breeders’ Cup Classic title defense in the Sept. 27 Awesome Again (GI) at Santa Anita, the same schedule he found success with last year.

Three-year-old filly sensation Untapable remains the shortest-priced female at 14-1. The winner of the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and, most recently, the Mother Goose (GI) will show up next in either the July 27 Haskell Invitational (GI) at Monmouth Park versus males or the July 20 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga against her own sex.

Demand from bettors resulted in four new names being added to the odds sheet this week: undefeated 3-year-old Shared Belief (25-1), Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist (25-1), Stephen Foster Handicap winner Moonshine Mullin (40-1) and 3-year-old Woody Stephens winner Bayern (50-1).

A complete list of 2014 Horse of the Year odds updated Monday by William Hill can be accessed on Dave Tuley’s “View From Vegas” sports betting website at http://www.viewfromvegas.com/uploads/2014-HOY-William_Hill_7-7.pdf. William Hill operates 100 sports betting locations across Nevada.

Future bet wagering on Horse of the Year will conclude Nov. 7, six days after the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park near Los Angeles.

Horse of the Year will be announced at the 44^th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony on January 17, 2015, at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino, located outside Miami in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The official result and voting tabulation for the Horse of the Year future bet will be posted online at ntra.com.