Larry Demeritte used to watch the Kentucky Derby in his native Bahamas and dream the dream. He was a top trainer in his homeland. Perhaps one day he could saddle a horse good enough to run for the roses.

The drive to make that happen led him to come to the United States in the mid-1970s and eventually become a citizen. Although he developed a reputation for having a keen eye for inexpensive horses that far outran their purchase prices, his Derby dream seemed like nothing more than fantasy.

Trainer Larry Demeritte (Coady Photography)

Then along came West Saratoga, an $11,000 diamond in the rough at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale who did not reach the winner’s circle until his fifth start. His sixth start became unforgettable.

The colt by Exaggerator, the Derby runner-up and Preakness winner in 2016, registered an upset victory in the Sept. 16 Iroquois Stakes as a 12-1 longshot in the Grade 3 race at Churchill Downs. In doing so, he earned 10 qualifying points in the first of 37 races that comprise the Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve.

Demeritte, who has battled bone cancer for more than six years, understands how much can happen between now and May 4, 2024 and a milestone edition of the nation’s premier race.

“It’s a long way off for us right now,” he said, “but you still have to keep the dream alive. So far, we have some points.”

Owner Harry Veruchi also is extremely cautious in his optimism as he looks ahead to the next step, the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 7 at Keeneland as a possible prelude to the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.

“We’re the leader in the clubhouse, I guess, but it’s going to get a lot tougher. I try to tell everybody that,” Veruchi said. “All of my friends are like, ‘We’re going to the Derby.’ I say, ‘No, no, no. Take it easy. Take a deep breath. We’ve got a long way to go before we can think about going to the Derby.’ ”

As early as it is, it is not too soon for them to start to enjoy the ride. “I’ll tell you what makes me feel so good, to see how much support I have, to see how many friends are wishing me well and congratulating me,” Demeritte said. “That is what it is all about.”

He oversees a nine-horse stable based at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington. He does everything he can to instill a family atmosphere at the barn and is quick to credit others. He made a point of praising jockey Rafael Bejarano for his handiwork in the Iroquois. “You couldn’t draw out a prettier trip than the way Rafael rode that horse,” he said.

The Iroquois represented the most significant triumph of Demeritte’s career. His biggest win before that had come with Memorial Maniac in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Turf Stakes at old Arlington International Racecourse in 2010. In his 41 years as an owner, Veruchi had never won a graded stakes until West Saratoga, after racing in mid-pack, stormed home to capture the one-mile Iroquois.

West Saratoga winning Iroquois. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Veruchi desperately hopes this can be the start of something big. “I want to do this for Larry,” he said. “He worked his butt off all of his life and now he has a chance to go to the Kentucky Derby. I think it will be one heck of a story, I really do.”

Demeritte embodies the little guy in the industry, one who more than makes do with extremely limited budgets at sales. West Saratoga already has returned $276,815 in earnings on an $11,000 initial investment. Lady Glamour, a $1,000 yearling, banked $126,170. Daring Pegasus, a $3,000 yearling, amassed $122,092 while under his care.

“I don’t buy cheap horses. I buy good horses cheap,” Demeritte said. “I have champagne tastes with a beer budget.”

He is a great fit for Veruchi, who prefers to limit his purchases to between $5,000 and $20,000. “Larry knows how to pick ‘em,” he said. “He can look at a horse and say, ‘That’s a runner.’ When he goes to an auction, he doesn’t even look at the book. He looks at the horse. Then, if he sees what he likes, he looks at the book.”

Demeritte saw in West Saratoga a good-looking, well-balanced prospect. The more he has gotten to know him, the more appealing he has become. He is convinced there is ample room for improvement.

“He’s a cool horse to train because he lets you know exactly how he’s feeling,” he said. “After he won [the Iroquois], he knew he won the race. He was so excited. He was bucking and kicking. I said, ‘Boy, you just ran a mile and you’re still playing?’ ”

Sure sounds like a colt with the vigor to last the Derby’s 1 ¼ miles.