Authentic wins Breeders’ Cup Classic as European raiders dominate on turf

LOS ANGELES – Authentic won the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic as Bob Baffert capped a troubled 2020 with two victories at Keeneland, where European raiders won all four turf races on Saturday in sometimes sensational style.

Baffert’s Kentucky Derby winner Authentic was a wire-to-wire winner in the Classic under John Velazquez, cruising to his third Grade One victory over elder stablemate Improbable in the marquee event of the 14-race, $30 million Breeders’ Cup slate at the Keeneland track in Lexington, Kentucky.

There were no fans in attendance, but the coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop a determined contingent of more than two dozen runners from Europe, who came up big on Saturday after being shut…