Bay Meadows Winner Disqualified for Not Carrying Enough Weight

The inaugural Final Fourteen Stakes was run at Bay Meadows, but it probably will be settled in court.

Allijeba finished a nose in front of Tex’s Zing in the $250,000 race Sunday, but the Bay Meadows stewards disqualified Allijeba when the clerk of scales, Bob Novelli, reported that the 4-year-old gelding didn’t carry enough weight.

Under the conditions of the race, Allijeba was supposed to carry 126 pounds, including jockey Ricky Frazier and equipment, but when Novelli weighed Frazier and his tack after the race, the weight was only 123 1/2 pounds.

Tex’s Zing, ridden by Shane Sellers and carrying 126 pounds, was declared the winner and Allijeba was ruled a non-starter, with all bets on him being refunded.

The disqualification cost Allijeba’s owner, Robert Allensworth, a purse of $125,000. Allijeba is the only horse Allensworth owns.

“I’ll tell you one thing, I’m going to court over this,” Allensworth said. “If this is what the horse business is all about, I’m getting out of it.”

Tex’s Zing paid $5.80 to win. He finished a neck in front of Rob and Plunder and Take a Flight was another two lengths back.