( CNN ) -- Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome won the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on Saturday with a burst at the homestretch -- moving a step closer to the illustrious and elusive Triple Crown . California Chrome was heavily favored in the 10-horse field . With Victor Espinoza riding , the colt held off a hard-charging Ride On Curlin to take the second jewel in the Triple Crown . Social Inclusion finished third . Now , with the Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories , if California Chrome wins the Belmont Stakes next month in New York , he 'll be the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to achieve the ultimate feat in thoroughbred racing . A former bus driver in his native Mexico City , Espinoza , 41 , has ridden in the Preakness six times , including on War Emblem in 2002 . After winning both the Derby and Preakness that year , War Emblem finished eighth in the Belmont Stakes . `` 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 . '' Art Sherman describes California Chrome in no uncertain terms : `` Pure and simple , he 's a rock star . '' The 77-year-old trainer says the horse loves posing for pictures , loves the buzz of the track . After the race , Sherman had tears rolling under his dark sunglasses . `` I knew we had to run harder this race , '' he told NBC . `` He 's a real racehorse and I 'm hoping that the mile and half [ in Belmont ] is up his alley , too ... It 's a dream for any trainer to do this . '' Of the 38 horses that won both the Derby and Preakness , only 11 went on to victory in the Belmont Stakes , which covers a greater distance than either of the preceding Triple Crown races . The winning colt even has his own official Twitter handle : @ calchrome . After the race came this tweet : `` Start spreading the news # Chromies we are going to New York ! '' California Chrome was delivered by a mare named Love the Chase that Steve Coburn and co-owner Perry Martin bought for $ 8,000 with a view to breeding . She was bred to the stallion Lucky Pulpit for a reduced fee of $ 2,000 , the first breeding the novice pair had ever undertaken . Their offspring had earned Coburn and Perry more than $ 2.3 million in prize money before the Preakness , also chalking up wins at the Santa Anita Derby , San Felipe Stakes and California Cup Derby . California Chrome is being compared by some to Seabiscuit , the beloved , undersized bay who -- though he never competed in a Triple Crown race -- outran Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a match race at Pimlico in 1938 and became a symbol of hope and determination . `` I do believe he 's that , like Seabiscuit , '' Coburn said . `` He became the people 's horse in the Depression because he was the little guy kicking the big guy . We 're doing that in the same kind of way . No one ever gave it any credence , and we should n't be where we are now . '' California Chrome will try to win that final jewel at Belmont Park in Hempstead , New York , on June 7 . `` You know what ? '' Espinoza said , `` we 'll get it done . '' Matt Majendie contributed to this report .
Kentucky Curlin winner California Chrome moves a step closer to the Triple Crown . Belmont Chrome held off Ride On Curlin in the 10-horse field . Jockey Victor Espinoza will get his second shot at the Triple Crown . Espinoza rode War Emblem to Derby , Curlin wins in 2002 , but did n't win Kentucky .