Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers and jockeys as they travel the Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve May 4 at Churchill Downs.

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This installment features Harry Veruchi, who purchased Derby hopeful West Saratoga for $11,000 as one of the last horses sold at Keeneland’s 2022 September yearling sale. Hip #4146 has emerged as a diamond in the rough for trainer Larry Demeritte, already banking $324,140 through nine starts.

West Saratoga’s success is highlighted by his victory in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes last Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs, providing long-time owner Veruchi with his first graded-stakes triumph. The son of 2016 Preakness winner Exaggerator is being pointed toward next Saturday’s Jeff Ruby Steaks, a Grade 3 on Turfway Park’s Tapeta Footings all-weather surface.

The Jeff Ruby Steaks offers the top five finishers Derby qualifying points on a 100-50-25-10-5 basis. West Saratoga, named for the street in Littleton, Colo. that Veruchi grew up on, needs a strong performance to add to his 17 points.

Veruchi, 71, discussed his long association with Demeritte, his determination to find quality at the lower end of sales, and West Saratoga’s Derby prospects during a question-and-answer session conducted on behalf of America’s Best Racing.

PEDULLA: How did you become interested in racing?

VERUCHI: My best friend and I used to go to Centennial Race Track (in Littleton, Colo.) when we were 12, 13 years old. We decided one day to go to the backside to see if we could get a job as a hotwalker or whatever. My friend got a job and I didn’t because I was a little bit shorter. But I’d still go to the track. You had to be with a parent, so I would sneak in behind somebody. I would just take it all in.

PEDULLA: When did you buy your first horse?

VERUCHI: I bought my first horse in 1982. His name was Merb. I’ve had horses every year since.

PEDULLA: How many horses do you have now?

VERUCHI: Six. I basically have claiming horses. I’ve run in small stakes races, but nothing like the Iroquois.

Trainer Larry Demeritte (Coady Photography)

PEDULLA: How long have you had Larry Demeritte as your trainer?

VERUCHI: Off and on since 2000. We’ve had some good horses. He knows how to pick them out. He doesn’t spend a lot of money for them, either.

PEDULLA: What does Larry offer as a trainer?

VERUCHI: Larry is very efficient. He doesn’t run a big stable. He’s hands on. He runs a good barn, a clean barn. He spends a lot of time with them, a lot of effort. He doesn’t leave any stone unturned. He works hard and he knows the game.

PEDULLA: Why did West Saratoga sell for the relatively low price of $11,000?

VERUCHI: Well, he was in the last 20 to go on the last day. Larry, he’s the type of guy who doesn’t look at the book. He’ll look at the horses. He’ll look at them front, back and sides, then he’ll look at a book. We thought he was going to go higher than he did. I told him I’d go to $20,000. But I got the horse for $11,000.

PEDULLA: What is your typical price point?

VERUCHI: I like yearlings. I’ll spend anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000.

PEDULLA: Some people would question whether you can find quality in that range.

VERUCHI: I’m not looking for a Kentucky Derby horse. Obviously, that is the ultimate. But I’m not looking for a graded-stakes horse. I’m looking for a horse I can have fun with, make some money with, maybe win a small stakes race somewhere. I just want to have fun.

PEDULLA: What did it mean to win the Iroquois and finally have a graded-stakes victory?

VERUCHI: Fantastic. Fantastic feeling. It’s the ultimate for me because I’m on a small scale. I’m not one of those guys who pays a million dollars or $500,000 or $300,000 for a horse. I buy the cheaper ones.

West Saratoga winning Iroquois (Coady Photography)

PEDULLA: West Saratoga has a win at Churchill Downs and he’s raced three times there. Is that an advantage if you make the Derby?

VERUCHI: It sure is not going to hurt. He loves the track there. He handles it well. He also likes the synthetic track at Turfway.

PEDULLA: West Saratoga has never run on an all-weather surface. Why are you pointing to the Jeff Ruby?

VERUCHI: He’s worked twice there. He’s going to like the surface over there, trust me.

PEDULLA: Do you have Derby fever at this point?

VERUCHI: I tell my wife [Mardy], ‘I don’t want to talk about it. Just let it go.’ Obviously, I do. Why wouldn’t I? She talks about it a lot. If it happens, it happens. The way I look at it, if it all ended today, I’m happy.

PEDULLA: If you could win the Derby, what would that mean to you?

VERUCHI: That’s the ultimate. We all strive for that. Anybody in this business strives for that. It’s the top. It’s what you dream.

PEDULLA: I know Larry has battled cancer. Would you be especially happy for him?

VERUCHI: Oh, God, would I ever. More than me. He’s got cancer. He’s been fighting that for years. But he’s a trier. He keeps going.