Being a son of Curlin, it would probably not be too surprising if several people saw this Richard Baltas-trained bay horse as a possible stakes winner before his career got underway.

Although he did not race as long as his famous father did, Idol indeed showed he was a stakes-caliber horse. And like his father before him, he managed to take one of racing's most storied events.

Cleverly named due to his dam being called Marion Ravenwood (and his damsire being A.P. Indy), Idol's career started at the same track where his sire took third in the Kentucky Derby back in 2007. In three starts during the 2020 fall meet under the Twin Spires, Idol crafted a productive meet. Never finishing out of the top three, he showed he was bred to be a win-early type by graduating second time out at seven furlongs.

His follow-up effort saw him take on winners for the first time in allowance company while being asked to navigate a mile and three-sixteenths. Interestingly, Curlin won at that exact same distance when he captured the 2007 Preakness Stakes. As Idol's resume now shows, Curlin gave his son the ability to route at classic distances, for Idol stayed with a compact field around the Churchill Downs main oval as he set a new track record when he reached the wire in 1:55.97 while winning by multiple lengths.

The tail end of 2020 saw Idol head West to Santa Anita. Curlin had visited this same venue one time in his career, taking fourth in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic in his career finale. Idol would have a little longer stay in Southern California, and he would have much better luck there than his sire had.

Moving up to graded stakes company after the allowance win at Churchill Downs, Idol accounted for himself quite well as he stayed in contention around the track to finish a hard-fought second while defeating graded stakes winners Midcourt and Mucho Gusto. Making the leap to graded stakes from the allowance ranks is no small feat, and Idol proved it was no fluke as he finished with interest to take third in the Grade II San Pasqual a few weeks later. The way he completed the contest gave the impression Idol might like more distance, and he received exactly that in his next outing.

Though Curlin never competed in the Santa Anita Handicap, he was proven at the race's 1 1/4-mile distance. Given how Idol wrapped up in the San Pasqual plus his pedigree, handicappers no doubt saw him as a contender in the 2021 Big 'Cap. As it turned out, Idol proved his backers right. After settling in at the back of the pack, Idol moved up as the race progressed. Overcoming a wide trip in the stretch, he got to the wire in time over Express Train to take the Big 'Cap in an impressive performance while scoring the biggest victory of his career.

The Big 'Cap also turned out to be the last victory for Idol. He would race twice more, finishing sixth in the Grade I Awesome Again at Santa Anita that fall and then taking the same spot in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap the following spring. Retired several months later, Idol finished third or better in six of eight starts while winning three times.

Though his career was far shorter than Curlin's, Idol managed to replicate his sire's consistency, penchant for routing, and class. He could also win on different circuits like his sire. And just as Curlin found success in some of racing's biggest events, Idol found his own classic victory.

Both father and son had their similarities as racehorses. And while Curlin was more prolific, there is no denying Idol was a nice horse in his own right on race days.