California Chrome takes aim at $10-million Dubai World Cup after win Thursday

It’s on to the world’s richest race for California Chrome.

The 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner appears to be back in top form with an easy two-length victory in a $150,000 race in Dubai, a second consecutive win for the popular horse on the comeback trail.

“It was easy,” jockey Victor Espinoza said after the race of about 1 1/4 miles at Meydan Racecourse. “It’s a short period of time from now until the next race. I didn’t want to empty the tank today.”

That next race would be the $10-million Dubai World Cup on March 26.

California Chrome raced third early in the eight-horse field, behind Success Story and Hunting Ground. Around the far turn, Chrome kicked into gear, took the lead on the outside and cruised to the finish ahead of runner-up Storm Belt.

“He came out of the gate like a rocket,” Espinoza said. “He went nice and comfortable today. I felt like I got a good position in the first turn, and from there on he was pretty much all by himself.”