Regal Patriot claimed by O'Neill in a unique way
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Regal Patriot was claimed by trainer Doug O’Neill at Del Mar on Aug. 8 in a unique manner – by a ballot of the participants in the Run Fast Racing stable.
In the leadup to the $25,000 claimer at five furlongs on turf, Adam Kluger, who heads the Run Fast Racing stable, conducted a vote, asking the membership to select a horse for a claim.
Regal Patriot topped the list with 39.7 percent of the ballots, Kluger said on Sunday.
In advance of the race, Kluger sent out an elaborate email, explaining the claiming process and detailing the recent records of the runners. Kluger said the email offered a primer for participants to do their own homework on a claim.
“We sent the cliff notes and let them do the research,” he said. “We let them teach themselves.”
Of the approximately 1,000 members of the syndicate, Kluger said that 248 submitted ballots.
“I think we’ll do it once a meet,” he said.
Regal Patriot, a 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Jersey Town, finished fifth of nine last Saturday. Regal Patriot disputed the pace into the stretch before fading to lose by 2 3/4 lengths in his first start since November.
Regal Patriot, who was previously trained by Steve Knapp, won 4 of 10 starts in 2025, all in turf sprints at Del Mar and Santa Anita. He earned $190,417 last year.
Kluger, who has a background in music promotion, has fronted Run Fast Racing since its formation in 2024. The stable had its first runners in 2025 and includes rap music stars Lil Yachty, Lil Wayne and Rauw Alejandro among its principal investors.
The stable is led by Listenupshance, the winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes for sprinters at Del Mar on July 25. Listenupshance, co-owned by Great Friends Stable and trained by O’Neill, earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31 with the win in the Bing Crosby Stakes.
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