Team Valor, Santulli purchase champion miler from Uruguay

Team Valor International and Richard Santulli have purchased champion South

American miler Brujo de Olleros and will import the once-beaten colt on February

20 from Uruguay.

A winner in four of five career outings, the chestnut son of Wild Event has

posted track-record performances in his last two starts, including a 14

1/4-length victory in which his time of 1:33 1/5 was the fastest mile run on

dirt at Las Maronas racetrack in 75 years (video).

Named champion miler at three, the Brazilian-bred Brujo de Olleros is now a

four-year-old in the United States.

Victor Hugo Azambullo handled the transaction for owner Luiz Fernando Cirne

Lima.

Graham Motion, who trains all of Team Valor's domestic horses from his base

at Fair Hill, Maryland, expects to receive the colt at Palm Meadows training

center on February 25.

"We are thrilled to be able to have a horse with such immense talent join our

stable," Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin said. "Bradley Weisbord was instrumental in

bringing Richard Santulli aboard and I hope Mr. Santulli's confidence in our

outfit is rewarded. We hope to have the colt ready for the late summer renewal

of the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga."

The "Wizard of Olleros" was named after a legendary Argentine trainer who

conditioned his horses adjacent to Olleros street.

In his final start, which carries Grade 1 status in Uruguay, Brujo de Olleros

won the same race as his half-brother Alcorano. Brujo de Olleros and Alcorano

are out of Hit Oil, a daughter of Fappiano's American-bred son Roy.