Kentucky Derby 2026 horse Ocelli changing jockeys to Tyler Gaffalione

Tyler Gaffalione is back in the Kentucky Derby.

Gaffalione, who ranks No. 3 in earnings among North American jockeys this year, had been set to be aboard Fulleffort during the Run for the Roses. Then, Fulleffort scratched.

But now, Gaffalione will serve as the jockey for Ocelli, which entered the Derby field because of Fulleffort's scratch.

Gaffalione replaces Joe Ramos, who originally was Ocelli's jockey for the Run for the Roses.

"Joe Ramos has been a fantastic rider for our stable," Whit Beckman, Ocelli's trainer, said at his barn Friday morning. "He always is going where we want him to go. He's shown up in some really big spots for us."

Shifting to Gaffalione, Beckman said, isn't "a mark" on Ramos' ability.

"But Tyler Gaffalione is the annual leading rider here at Churchill in multiple meets," Beckman said. "He's a guy that has been in these big spots before, finished second in the (2024) Derby with Sierra Leone, won the Oaks.

"So we just decided, on this big day, just kind of polling the ownership and taking everybody's opinion into account. Again, it's not anything to do with one rider not being good enough. It's just that, at Churchill Downs, (Gaffalione) is an exceptional rider. It's one of those decisions that made sense for the biggest race of the year for this horse."

And it's a learning lesson for Ramos.

"I think all young riders just have to accept that when you've got this type of situation, there's gonna be — like me, I get spun by agents all the time for a better horse," Beckman said. "That's part of the game, ya know? ... Just kind of the knocks you take as a young rider into molding yourself to the next level."

Cristian Torres in Derby as Robusta's jockey

2026 Kentucky Derby eligible horse Robusta in the barn of trainer Doug O'Neill April 28, 2028 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Robusta entered the Derby field after Right to Party's scratch Friday morning.

Cristian Torres will be aboard Robusta for the Derby.

Torres received the call from trainer Doug O'Neill shortly after Robusta's entrace Friday.