The lead-up to the Labor Day holiday weekend yielded four juvenile fillies who uncorked “better than it looked” debuts in turf races. They didn't earn gaudy speed figures or win by huge margins, but their visually appealing efforts added depth to a competitive division.In the eighth race at Colonial Downs Sept. 3, Bellablaze (Yaupon), a half-sister to the 2025 Champion Female Sprinter and GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint victress Shisospicy (Mitole), got bet down to 2.7-1 co-favoritism in a maiden special weight (MSW) grass dash over 5 1/2 furlongs.Sheldon Russell broke the filly forwardly from the gate and snagged a sweet stalking spot, forcing the issue just behind and to the outside of the leader through a :22.68 opening quarter.Bellablaze went after the pacemaker while in hand approaching the head of the lane. After one or two unfocused strides, the filly locked in with purpose when set down for the drive in upper stretch, putting away that target and fending off a strong bid from an onrushing closer in the final half-furlong.Bellablaze ($270,000 RNA KEESEP) won by three-quarters of a length in 1:03.72 (51 Beyer Speed Figure).She's owned by Tami Bobo and trained by Brittany Russell.On the Sept. 4 card at Saratoga, the 1 1/16-mile, $200,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes figured to produce a horse of interest for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.But the first race that afternoon, a same-distance MSW also on the inner turf, could end up being the better measuring stick.Domestic Agenda (American Pharoah), a Chad Brown-trained firster for Klaravich Stables, went off at 1.67-1. After breaking smartly and conceding the lead, this athletic stalker looked very much like a well-meant favorite through the middle stages of the race.When Flavien Prat roused her with a hand ride on the far turn, Domestic Agenda advanced willingly.But when Prat tried to angle inside the leader in upper stretch, he found another filly occupying the spot he wanted at the rail.Swerving back out, he then had to keep Domestic Agenda off the heels of the leader. She lost momentum, but quickly re-engaged.Emboldened when challenged by a fresh closer to her outside at the furlong marker, Domestic Agenda shifted into a higher gear just as Prat aimed her inside again.This time Domestic Agenda knifed through a narrow gap to collar the leader. She also kept the late-running threat at bay, opening up to win by half a length.Never fully extended, Domestic Agenda galloped out with good energy.Her final time of 1:43.71 (69 Beyer) was .23 seconds quicker than Glycogen (Jack Christopher)'s winning clocking of 1:43.94 (67 Beyer) in the P.G. Johnson Stakes three races later.On the all-turf Kentucky Downs program Sept. 5, Monique En Vol (Flightline), a homebred for St. Elias Stables, patiently built momentum at the back, then cut loose with a well-timed inside bid under Florent Geroux to win the first race, a one-mile MSW, by 1 ¾ lengths.She executed the task in going-away fashion, appearing to have plenty left in reserve. The final time of 1:36.19 earned the Brad Cox-trained firster a 71 Beyer.Middlemist (Improbable) didn't get as seamless a trip as the winner, yet she hung in for third at 7.95-1 odds. She also bears watching.The Brendan Walsh trainee (bred by Runnymede Farm and owned in partnership by Runnymede, Callahan Equine, Jim Matriani, and Edgar Harty) was a step slow from the gate and rated at the rear before Tyler Gaffalione edged her closer, chasing the front group down the hill over the undulating course and advancing into fourth as the fence came up on their left.Gaffalione tried to move Middlemist out from that inside commitment three furlongs out, but it took the better part of half a furlong before the filly could clear the two rivals in front of her.Middlemist then stayed on under pressure with the three favorites ganging up on her. She brushed with an outside foe before briefly seizing a share of the lead.Her turn at the top was brief. Middlemist tired but didn't quit, preserving third by a neck (66 Beyer).Her female family suggests she can handle longer distances on the lawn.Middlemist's dam, National Flower, won at 1 9/16 miles in France in 2021. Second dam Speckled won at both 1 ½ and 1 5/8 miles in England in 2013.The post The Week in Review: Quartet of Sneaky-Good Turf Debuts for 2yo Fillies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.