ARCADIA, Calif. – McKinzie and Mitole shared the racetrack for workouts at Santa Anita early Thursday morning. They may share the winner’s circle here a few hours apart on Nov. 2.

McKinzie and Mitole are leading contenders for Breeders’ Cup races and had separate tune-up workouts at a half-mile on Thursday. They worked just after dawn.

McKinzie, bound for the $6 million BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles, worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds, his first workout since his second as the favorite to longshot Mongolian Groom in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes here on Sept. 28.

The Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile on Saturday at Keeneland was the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race linked to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and all credit to Bowies Hero for a convincing, professional victory there that punched his Breeders’ Cup ticket.

Love, the 2-year-old filly trained by Aidan O’Brien, earned a berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita by winning the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland on Sept. 15.

If she is sent to California, Love will have had a tough autumn campaign. Friday at Newmarket Racecourse in England, Love is part of a strong field of nine in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile that includes three undefeated runners – Cayenne Pepper, Quadrilateral, and Powerful Breeze.

Unlike the other Breeders’ Cup races contested on turf, Europeans have made little noise in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, with every edition of the race since it was added to the program in 2008 captured by a U.S.-based runner. That may continue to be the case this year, as the top runners from various international jurisdictions aren’t likely to make the trip to California.

ARCADIA, Calif. – There was something familiar about Midnight Bisou’s half-mile work Monday at Santa Anita, 51.60 seconds under exercise rider Angel Garcia. The favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff was working for the first time since returning to California.

“An easy half to get acquainted with the racetrack,” assistant trainer Scott Blasi said. “She bounced off the racetrack. That’s exactly how we wanted her to feel.”

Special Blessing could go favored Friday night in the $100,000 Magnolia at Delta Downs. The mile race is the first stakes of the meet, and it is restricted to fillies and mares bred in Louisiana.

Special Blessing is making her first start since April 26, when she captured the $75,000 Evangeline Downs Distaff. She rolled by 6 1/2 lengths, and her Beyer Speed Figure of 86 in the mile race is the best last-race number in the 10-horse Magnolia.

Mocito Rojo could be headed back to Kentucky.

The Delta Downs-based horse, who won his fifth straight race in the Grade 3 Lukas Classic last month at Churchill Downs, is being considered for the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette on Oct. 26 at Keeneland, trainer Shane Wilson said Wednesday. He said Mocito Rojo also has the option of the $100,000 Delta Mile at home on Nov. 16.

The decision by the connections of Mongolian Groom to make him eligible to the Breeders’ Cup Classic by paying a nomination fee of $200,000 seems a steep price to pay, but in fact he could have gotten in earlier for a far cheaper price, and the Breeders’ Cup has made the process much more affordable than in its earlier days.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Fair Maiden, third in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 15 at Woodbine, will be ridden by jockey Drayden Van Dyke in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, trainer Eoin Harty said Friday.

Van Dyke, who through Sunday was tied for the lead in the jockey standings at the Santa Anita autumn meeting with Abel Cedillo, will be Fair Maiden’s fourth rider in as many starts.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Onthewingsofadream will have his Santa Anita debut Friday after an unconventional start to his career last month.

Trained by Vann Belvoir for Truline Racing, Onthewingsofadream won two 870-yard races against Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos in September – a maiden race and an allowance race. Friday, the 5-year-old Onthewingsofadream starts in an allowance race with a $16,000 claiming option for California-breds at six furlongs.

The 870-yard races gave the gelding race experience and obviated the need for repeated workouts, Belvoir said.