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Judge Tosses Gambling Debt Lawsuit Against American Pharoah Owner

Ahmed Zayat Doesn't Owe $1.65 Million

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The owner of racehorse American Pharoah, which will be competing this week for the first Triple Crown since 1978, happily saw a judge this week toss out a gambling debt lawsuit against him.

The federal judge in New Jersey ruled that Ahmed Zayat wasn’t on the hook for the $1.65 million Florida resident Howard Rubinsky claimed he was owed from front money given to Zayat for gambling at offshore casinos, according to the Associated Press.

The judge said the six-year statute of limitations had been reached for such a lawsuit.

The agreement pertaining to the gambling money dates back to 2003. Rubinsky claimed the debt later grew to $2 million, and that some of it was repaid. Zayat denied owing more.

“Justice always prevails,” Zayat said in a phone interview with AP. “I have said before these are all lies from A to Z. And the judge ruled in our favor. Could not have happened at a better time.”

Rubinsky reportedly could file an appeal.