Accompanied by a police escort and two United Parcel Service vehicles, Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown (photo by Jim McCue/MJC) arrived at Pimlico Race Course on Wednesday evening, in preparation for the $1 million Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Undefeated in four starts and the 1 to 2 morning line favorite for the Preakness, Big Brown drew post position 7, after starting on the far outside (post 20 and 12, respectively) in the Kentucky Derby and his previous stakes race, the Florida Derby.

Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., who rode in the van with Big Brown, said, “This was clockwork.” There were “no problems” with the (air) transport from Kentucky.

“We used to be stalled just a few barns away from here (the stakes barn) and I’d to come over when all the big horses came in,” added Dutrow, who grew up around Pimlico, where his father, trainer Dick Dutrow, was stabled. “I dreamed a lot about having one here.”

Weather permitting, according to Dutrow, Big Brown will gallop after the break on Thursday and Friday, and undergo a short “blowout” the day of the race.

Three of Big Brown’s challengers arrived earlier on Wednesday, including Arkansas Derby winner Gayego, who has shipped three times in five weeks from his California base. Gayego, the only other Kentucky Derby starter (he finished 17th) in the Preakness, is the second choice at 8 to 1 on the morning line.

“He’s bucking and playing,” said Jody Pieper, assistant to Gayego’s trainer, Paulo Lobo. “Shipping doesn’t seem to bother him at all.”

Ten of the 13 starters for the Preakness are now in the Pimlico stakes barn. Kentucky Bear, third in the Blue Grass Stakes and the third choice at 15 to 1 on the morning line, has been at Pimlico for one week. Giant Moon is scheduled to arrive Thursday. Behindathebar and Icabad Crane will ship the morning of the race.