California Chrome is one step closer to winning the elusive Triple Crown after taking the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on Saturday.
The colt won the Kentucky Derby on May 3, and if he wins at the Belmont Stakes in New York on June 7, he will become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.
“It is an awesome feeling to be able to have a horse like California Chrome,” Espinoza told NBC Sports after the race. “It was just a crazy race … I got more tired mentally than physically riding him. But it worked out well, and he’s just an amazing horse.”
California Chrome, who has won six straight races, ran the 1 3/16th-mile course in 1:54.84.
Ride on Curlin came in second, and Social Inclusion finished third.
Photo via Twitter/@JeffPini
