Kentucky Derby won in stunning fashion by favourite California Chrome

Early stages in the 140th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, with eventual winner California Chrome in third place. Photograph: Jamie Rhodes/USA Today Sports

California Chrome, a warm favourite, won the 140th Kentucky Derby in brilliant fashion at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Perfectly ridden by Victor Espinoza, California Chrome pinned back his ears and sprinted clear of his rivals at the top of the stretch to easily win the $2.2m race in Louisville.

Commanding Curve, one of the longshots in the 19-horse field, finished strongly to take second while Danza battled in for third place.

Unbeaten in four starts this season, the modestly-bred California Chrome started as the 5-2 favourite after romping to victories in previous races, including last month's Santa Anita Derby that is one of the key lead-up events to the Run for the Roses.

California Chrome's 77-year-old trainer, Art Sherman, became the oldest person to train the winner of the Kentucky Derby.

The attendance at Churchill Downs was announced as 164,906.

The winning owners, Steve Coburn of Nevada and Perry Martin of California, paid only $10,500 for California Chrome – $8,000 to purchase the mare Love the Chase and $2,500 to breed her to the stallion Lucky Pulpit.

Only three horses bred in California had previously won the Kentucky Derby – Morvich (1922), Swaps (1955) and Decidedly (1962)