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.