A few jockey assignments for the May 3 Kentucky Derby have been finalized, with John Velazquez getting back on Grande and Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the mount on Publisher. Grande, the Wood Memorial runner-up, got into the Kentucky Derby field because Heart of Honor, runner-up in the UAE Derby, is no longer being considered for the Kentucky Derby, according to a racing official with the International Racing Bureau. Heart of Honor, trained by Jamie Osborne, was made eligible for the Triple Crown series by Monday’s second deadline following his nose defeat to Admire Daytona in the UAE Derby on April 5. Heart of Honor could be a candidate for the Preakness or Belmont Stakes. Velazquez, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner, rode Grande to victories in his first two starts at Gulfstream Park. But Velazquez was in Dubai on April 5 when Grande, ridden by Dylan Davis, finished second to Rodriguez in the Wood at Aqueduct. :: DRF Road to the Derby Package Available Now! Save 37% on key handicapping essentials through Kentucky Derby Day. Grande, a son of Curlin owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher, has remained in New York and is at Belmont Park, where he is scheduled to have one workout before shipping to Churchill Downs for his final work. Horses entered in the Kentucky Derby must be on the Churchill grounds by 11 a.m. on April 26, a full week before the Derby is run. Meanwhile, Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Steve Asmussen and Steve Rushing, Ortiz’s agent, confirmed Friday. Ortiz rode River Thames to a third-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes on Tuesday. River Thames is being pointed to the Kentucky Derby and will need a rider. Publisher is still a maiden, but he earned enough qualifying points for the Derby based on his runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby and fourth-place finish in the Rebel. Ortiz replaces Flavien Prat, who rode Publisher in his previous two starts. As of Friday morning, Prat did not have a confirmed Derby mount. Friday afternoon, trainer Brad Cox confirmed that Luan Machado would retain the mount on Final Gambit for the Kentucky Derby. Machado has ridden the horse three straight times and was aboard during his victory in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. In addition to River Thames, other Derby horses without a confirmed rider include East Avenue. Flood Zone was ruled out of the Derby on Friday, allowing Madaket Road into the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.