Alabama QB Hurts ‘delighted’ to be horse’s namesake

By Jonathan Lintner

Before the Alabama football team and quarterback Jalen Hurts took the field last week in the College Football Playoff, a horse who shares a name with the signal caller served as quite the hunch play at Gulfstream Park.

That Louisiana-bred Jalen Hurts finished third in starter optional claiming company didn’t foreshadow the human’s Sugar Bowl performance. Hurts completed 16 of 24 passes, scored two touchdowns and advanced his team to Monday night’s championship game.

Soon, however, trainer Patrick Biancone figures the horse will perform up to his namesake.

“To compare to football, he’s a junior starting to understand the game,” Biancone said. “He’s improving after each run, and I think by the middle of the year he’ll be a very good horse.”

Alabama businessman Gus King purchased the son of Calibrachoa for $145,000 as a 2-year-old. While The Jockey Club requires authorization when horses are named after humans, King's connection to the football team goes beyond fandom. His daughter, Jenna, is married to Austin Shepherd, a former Crimson Tide offensive lineman selected in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Permission granted.

“The kid was delighted,” Biancone said. “We send photos and videos of the horse to the real Jalen Hurts.”

The native Frenchman Biancone, whose Lion Heart ran second in the 2004 Kentucky Derby, is much less a football aficionado than his client.

Biancone asked, “Why can’t you bring the kid to see the horse?” King told him, “I can’t, because it’s against the rules.”

Added Biancone: “How stupid is that?”

With the equine Jalen Hurts a gelding, it’s possible he’ll still be racing once his human counterpart, a sophomore, is no longer an amateur.

The horse broke his maiden at fourth asking and has on two other occasions hit the board, including last Monday’s outing at Gulfstream.

“He’s coming along well,” Biancone said, “and I think the real Jalen Hurts will be happy to have this one named after him.”