Two months after winning the Kentucky Derby in front-running fashion, the 3-year-old Authentic used those same tactics to beat the best older horses in training and win the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 2 1-4 lengths Saturday at Keeneland.

Improbable, a three-time Grade 1 winning 4-year-old, finished second, followed by Global Campaign and Tacitus, Maximum Security, Tiz the Law, Title Ready, By My Standards, Tom’s d’Etat and Higher Power.

Authentic gave trainer Bob Baffert his fourth the Breeders’ Cup Classic, all with 3-year-olds. He won it in 2014 with Bayern, 2015 with American Pharoah and 2016 with Arrogate.

The victory not only wrapped up the 3-year-old championship for Authentic but also makes him a prime contender for Horse of the Year.

It was the second Breeders’ Cup victory on the card for Baffert, who also won the Filly and Mare Sprint earlier on the card with Gamine. Baffert has now won 17 Breeders’ Cup races.

John Velazquez, who also rode Gamine, was aboard Authentic giving him his 18th Breeders’ Cup victory, but first in the Classic.

Authentic, a son of Into Mischief, is owned by Spendthrift Farm, Myracehorse.com, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing Stables.

Authentic won for the fifth time in seven starts this year _ and sixth from eight overall _ and added this to his victory in the Kentucky Derby, Haskell Invitational, Grade 2 San Felipe and Grade 3 Sham.

Authentic broke from post 9 and was able to get to the lead fairly easily. No fractions were posted or available on-track.

The only horse who got close to Authentic was Improbable, who seemed poised to make a run at Authentic, but Authentic just ran away from Improbable in the final furlong.

Authentic, the co-second choice at 4-1, returned $10.40 to win.

Jay Privman will have a complete write-up, hopefully with fractions and final time, later on drf.com