California Chrome striding to the finish line (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos)

California Chrome continued to strut his stuff in Saturday's $1.5 million Preakness Stakes, posting a comfortable 1 1/2-length decision, and the phenomenal three-year-old can become only the 12th Thoroughbred to capture Triple Crown when he lines up for the Belmont Stakes in three weeks.

"He's an amazing horse," jockey Victor Espinoza said.

Amazing and dominant; California Chrome has now thrashed the competition in six straight starts. Trained by the 77-year-old Art Sherman, the bright chestnut colt opened his Triple Crown assault with an easy 1 3/4-length victory in the May 3 Kentucky Derby, and a record crowd of 123,469 showed up at Pimlico Saturday to see him put on another display of authority.

"It's quite a thrill," Sherman said. "I know he had to run harder this race. Just watching him perform, I was a little concerned coming back in two weeks. I'll tell you one thing: he's a real racehorse. I hope the mile and a half (in the Belmont Stakes) is up his alley, too, because he's a very good horse.

California Chrome kept Ride on Curlin safe in the latter stages (Spencer Tulis/Horsephotos.com)

Espinoza kept the bright chestnut colt busy to the finish line as Ride on Curlin futilely gave chase in second.

"It's an awesome feeling to have a horse like California Chrome," Espinoza said. "It was a crazy race. I got more tired mentally than physically."

Favored at 1-2 among 10 rivals, California Chrome returned a $3 win payout to his many supporters.

Bred in California by owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome pocketed $900,000 to boost his career earnings to $3,452,650. His record reads 12-8-1-0.

"The Triple Crown," Coburn said when asked what's next. "You know what? I don't mean to be bold or cocky or arrogant because I've said this. I've said it a hundred times if I've said it once. When I saw this colt, when I saw this baby when he was a day old, I told my wife, Carolyn, this horse is going to do something big. I don't know what it is, but we're going to stay in the game to make sure this colt gets to be the best that he can be. I've been a firm believer in that ever since, and he's not proven me wrong."

Espinoza celebrated another excellent victory (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

Some notable rivals will also be waiting for him in New York. The horses that finished second-through-sixth in the Kentucky Derby all skipped the Preakness in favor of the Belmont Stakes and impressive Peter Pan winner Tonalist could be a dangerous new shooter. But the build-up to the June 7 race will be all about California Chrome.

While Sherman had never had a horse in a Triple Crown race before this year, Espinoza will making his second attempt at a Triple Crown. He captured the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness aboard War Emblem, but his mount lost all chance at the start of the Belmont Stakes when he stumbled out of the starting gate.

"It means a lot, and I'm ready. I'm ready for it," Espinoza said when asked about having a second chance at the Triple Crown. "Hopefully California Chrome comes back good. It's tough, but I'm just glad to have my second chance in my career. In a million years I didn't think I was going to have a second chance."

Pablo Del Monte established early Preakness splits in :23 2/5 and :46 4/5 while being chased by the filly Ria Antonia in second. The pacesetter was still clinging to a short lead through six furlongs in 1:11 before readily giving way.

Two down, one to go for Triple Crown glory (Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com)

Reaching the mile mark in 1:35 3/5 with a three-length cushion, California Chrome went on to complete the 1 3/16-mile distance in 1:54 4/5 over the fast track.

Ride on Curlin rallied from far back to be a clear second at 10-1 odds, 6 1/2 lengths better than 5-1 second choice Social Inclusion, who edged General Aa Rod by a head for third.

Ring Weekend came next in fifth and was followed under the finish line by Pablo Del Monte, Dynamic Impact, Kid Cruz, Bayern and Ria Antonia.

California Chrome is the first registered foal from the winning Love the Chase, a daughter of Not for Love who has since produced a pair of full sisters to the Derby winner. This extended family is responsible for Cascapedia, the champion older mare of 1977.

California Chrome registered his first two stakes wins over state-bred rivals, taking Graduation at Del Mar last summer and the King Glorious at Hollywood Park in late December, and he opened his 2014 campaign with a 5 1/2-length romp over restricted foes in the January 25 California Cup Derby.