Belmont 2026: Vitruvian Man joins cast, brings probable field to 10

After two defections from the Belmont Stakes were confirmed Wednesday morning, one addition to the field was finalized Wednesday afternoon.

Vitruvian Man, third in the Santa Anita Derby in his only start this year, will run in the $2 million Belmont on June 6 at Saratoga, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

“He’s always shown a lot of talent, he was just a little slow to come around,” O’Neill said. “He’s training well. We’re excited.”

Antonio Fresu, who rode Vitruvian Man in the Santa Anita Derby, will ride him in the Belmont, O’Neill said.

Vitruvian Man, a son of Vino Rosso owned and bred by Glenn Sorgenstein, has one win from six starts. The win came last fall in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Keeneland that was restricted to horses who sold or who did not reach their reserve of $65,000 or less at their most recent auction.

Vitruvian Man overcame a slow start to win that race by a nose. Thereafter, Vitruvian Man ran twice in allowance company in Kentucky, finishing second and third, respectively, before getting time off.

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O’Neill said that Vitruvian Man has had “steering issues” in the past but he is equipping the horse with an Australian ring bit to help give Fresu more control of the horse.

“His last couple of works have been his best to date,” O’Neill said. “And he always acted like a horse the longer the better.”

Vitruvian Man worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:13.60 at Santa Anita on May 20 and O’Neill said he plans to work him from the gate again over the weekend at Santa Anita.

Vitruvian Man’s inclusion in the field restores the probable list to 10 after the defections of Chip Honcho and Potente earlier in the day.

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