Regal Big Brown arrives at Pimlico in style

Big Brown’s arrival at Pimlico on Wednesday night was fitting of a Kentucky Derby champion.

After his plane left Louisville, Ky., two hours late, the colt, accompanied by a police escort and two United Parcel Service trucks, arrived at the track shortly before 8 p.m. EDT.

The heavy Preakness favorite was on the track Thursday morning, galloping 2 miles. If the predicted rain holds off today, he’ll gallop again. If not, he’ll jog.

“He’s confident, cool and relaxed,” said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. “I’m not sure that he needs to take his track with him. He looked pretty happy out there. I won’t complain about the track if we lose.”

A Rose by any name

Jeremy Rose is the only jockey besides Kent Desormeaux who knows how it feels to be on top of Big Brown.

Rose, who rode Afleet Alex to Preakness and Belmont victories in 2005, was on Big Brown, a 15-1 underdog, in an 11 1/4 -length victory in his maiden turf race in September at Saratoga. Rose was filling in for Edgar Prado, who was injured the day before.

“I’m just happy I may have sat on a Triple Crown winner,” said Rose, who’ll be on 30-1 shot Icabad Crane on Saturday.

Shortly after Big Brown’s debut, the horse was sold and Desormeaux is 3-0 on the colt, including his convincing Kentucky Derby win.

Sea of red ink

Pimlico management needs a big Preakness day to take its mind off its financial problems.

Magna Entertainment, which owns Pimlico, lost $46 million in the first quarter of this year and $306.3 million the past three years.

The company has had five chief executives since 2000, with Magna chairman Frank Stronach serving as interim CEO three times.