This column highlights the performances of 3-year-old maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

Gulfstream Park

Trainer Brad Cox sent out another head-turning maiden winner from his inaugural Payson Park Training Center string when the Uncle Mo colt Emergence  bounded to a first-out score Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park.

In less than two months, the powerful Cox South Florida stable has already unveiled such Maiden Watch performers like Tappan Street  and John Hancock . Emergence added his name to the fray in a competitive maiden special weight on the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) undercard, rallying to a 3 1/4-length tally on the Gulfstream synthetic track.

Although Emergence’s two graded stakes-winning siblings, War Story  and Land Over Sea , achieved their best success on the traditional dirt surface, Cox opted to start the massive dark bay/brown colt over the synthetic. His sire, the late Uncle Mo, has been among the top 25 stallions for all-weather track earnings since 2022 and is currently ranked second for progeny earnings in 2025.

Making his debut for the partnership of Qatar Racing, CHC, and Trilogy USA, the $450,000 Keeneland September yearling was away slowly from the gate under Luis Saez. Bumped and pushed wide heading into the first turn, the colt steadily built up his momentum from the back of the pack. Following a half-mile in :48.49, Saez spurred the long-striding colt into action and he threaded his way between rivals before launching a three-wide bid turning for home. Reaching the front at the top of the lane, he extended his lead to the wire, running a final time of 1:42.82 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Emergence became the seventh winner produced from Summer Wind Equine’s mare Belle Watling. The daughter of Pulpit was acquired by Summer Wind for $1.05 million at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, the same year her son War Story captured the Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (G2) and placed fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). War Story, a five-time stakes winner by Northern Afleet, banked more than $3.2 million during seven seasons on the track.

Belle Watling’s daughter Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road) captured the 2016 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) before finishing a late-closing second to Cathryn Sophia in that year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1). Like her dam, Land Over Sea also brought six figures in the sales ring in 2017, selling to Japan’s Shadai Farm for $1.3 million at Fasig-Tipton’s The November Sale.