ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) - Mike Smith rode two winners in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Saturday and came close to a third.

Smith earned his ninth and 10th career BC wins, on Azeri in the Distaff and Vindication in the Juvenile.

And he almost pulled off a third when Composure took a late lead before finishing second to Storm Flag Flying by a half-length in the Juvenile Fillies.

Smith, whose racing career was once in jeopardy because of a broken back, said he was just along for the ride on Azeri, who has won 10 of 11 career races.

"It just went like I dreamed last night. Every step of the way was a celebration," Smith said. "This was the best she ever broke. Like a rocket."

It was Smith's first BC win since 1997.

Trainer Laura de Seroux has a picture of Azeri after her first race and Smith says it reflects her progress.

"They don't look the same. The color and the markings are the same, but the bodies are totally different," Smith said. "She could be the best filly ever."

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WINNING TOUTS:@ Karen Johnson enjoyed a huge day at the Breeders' Cup.

The New York-based writer for the Daily Racing Form correctly picked four winners on the eight-race card, including Volponi's shocking upset in the $4 million Classic.

Johnson couldn't avoid picking Volponi. She owns a piece of the horse and her father, Hall of Famer Phil Johnson, is part-owner, trainer and co-breeder.

Volponi, a 40-1 shot, won by 6 1/2 lengths in the day's biggest upset.

"I don't know if I want to cash the ticket," she said. "I might have to."

Johnson correctly picked Storm Flag Flying to win the Juvenile Fillies, Vindication in the Juvenile, High Chaparral in the Turf and Volponi.

"I really thought that the horse could win and I also felt like I had to pick the horse," she said of Volponi. "My dad had a lot of faith in the horse and I have a lot of faith in my dad's judgment."

But Johnson's tout didn't go without notice.

"I figured I was going to get a lot of ribbing," she said.

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ANOTHER WIN FOR WAYNE:@ D. Wayne Lukas, the most successful trainer in Breeders' Cup history, got his 17th victory when Orientate won the Sprint.

Lukas is the only trainer to have started a horse in all of the Breeders' Cups since the event began in 1984.

"I didn't know we would win it, but Orientate has mile capabilities and I thought if we were in contention at the eighth pole, we would finish with any horse no matter what the pace was," Lukas said.

Lukas said the six-furlong race was much better for his horse than a longer distance.

"I'm a little bit at fault trying to think that he wold be as effective as he's been sprinting stretching out," Lukas said.

"I think he's the fastest horse in the world today and we need to let these horses do what they do best."

Jerry Bailey rode Orientate for his 13th BC victory, the most of any jockey and one more than Pat Day.

Last year, Orientate, owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, finished 12th in the Classic.

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MIXED EMOTIONS:@ Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien was elated with High Chaparral's victory in the Turf. But his day was also a sad one after another of his horses, Landseer, had to be euthanized after breaking his leg in the Mile.

"It's just one of those things, one of those days," O'Brien said. "It was a big pity about Landseer. When that happens, what can you say? It's terrible."

Landseer was a four-time winner in his two-year career. He was owned by Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor.

O'Brien entered the Classic with one winner with 14 starters. Johannesburg won the Juvenile last year.

With seven starters, O'Brien came away from the Breeders' Cup with a win, a second in the Mile (Rock of Gibraltar) and a third in the Juvenile (Hold That Tiger).

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BAFFERT'S TRIO:@ Trainer Bob Baffert watched as his Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem faded badly and finished eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the final and most lucrative race Saturday.

But earlier Baffert had reason to smile when Vindication won the Juvenile and two of his horses, Kafwain and Bull Market, finished second and fourth in the same race.

"Vindication is a paparazzi horse right now. He's going to get all the flash and all that stuff," Baffert said.

A son of Seattle Slew, Vindication is unbeaten in four races.

His future?

"We'll have a lot of bragging rights until the first Saturday in May or until the first time we run him," Baffert said, referring to the Kentucky Derby.

"We know he's talented and good enough, I've just to keep him sound. That's just the hardest part of this game."

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COOL SURROUNDINGS:@ After three days of rain, the skies relented but it was still a cool and cloudy day with temperatures in the low 50s. The muddy dirt track had dried out somewhat by the day's final race.

Attendance at Arlington Park was 46,118.