American Pharoah Owner Asks Judge To Toss Libel Suit: Report

Ahmed Zayat’s attorneys have asked a federal judge to dismiss a libel lawsuit filed by the lawyer of a convicted felon who claims Zayat, a Teaneck resident and owner of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, owes him nearly $1.7 million from a gambling debt.

The suit revolves around statements Zayat gave to the New York Daily News and two other publications after NJ Advance Media first reported that Howard Rubinsky sued Zayat for the money in U.S. District Court in 2014.

Zayat told the News in May that the lawsuit was “a fictitious story from people who are trying to extort me. It’s laughable. When we asked for any documentation, they have nothing. No documents, no proof, no receipts. Not a single word of truth. It’s insanity.

“It’s a criminal’s sick mind, trying to bring an honorable man down.”

Zayat’s lawyer said in court papers filed last week that there is “no factual basis on which a third party can read the Daily News article and conclude that Zayat accused Rubinsky’s lawyer of committing a crime,” NJ.com reported.

Zayat’s lawyers told the website their client’s comments were “a childish temper tantrum.”

Zayat, a Teaneck resident, is one of the 50 most wealthy New Jerseyans. According to a list published by NJBiz, Zayat is estimated to be worth $280 million.

Zayat announced that American Pharoah will race at the William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park Aug. 2.