ROME (AP) — Inter Milan came back from two goals down for a 4-3 victory at Como on Sunday and extended its Serie A lead to nine points with six rounds remaining.
Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries each had braces for Inter, which took advantage of second-place Napoli being held 1-1 at Parma earlier to increase its advantage.
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Como's Nicolas Paz celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Inter, in Como, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alessio Morgese/LaPresse via AP)
Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram celebrates during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Inter, in Como, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Antonio Saiai/LaPresse via AP)
Inter Milan's head coach Cristian Chivu celebrates during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Inter, in Como, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Antonio Saiai/LaPresse via AP)
Parma's Nesta Elphege and Napoli's Juan Jesus, left, vie for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Napoli's Scott McTominay, right, celebrates after scoring the equalizing goal during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Napoli's Scott McTominay during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Napoli's head coach Antonio Conte shouts during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Napoli's Scott McTominay attempts an overhead kick during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Alex Valle and Nico Paz scored for Como late in the first half before Thuram started the comeback with a goal in first-half added time.
Lucas Da Cunha pulled one back with a penalty for Como in the 89th.
The teams will met again in the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinals later this month after a 0-0 first leg.
It was another encouraging sign for Inter after a 5-2 victory over Roma last weekend ended a three-match winless streak.
Cristian Chivu is attempting to win Serie A during his first season in charge at Inter after replacing the departed Simone Inzaghi.
Como dropped from fourth to fifth and just outside the Champions League places.
Napoli conceded a goal after 33 seconds in a draw that may end its chances of successfully defending the Serie A title.
Scott McTominay equalized on the hour mark for Napoli after Gabriel Strefezza scored early on with a play that began with a long ball from Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
The result ended a five-match winning streak for Napoli.
Parma moved nine points above the relegation zone in 14th.
Also, Bologna beat Lecce 2-0 with goals from Remo Freuler and Riccardo Orsolini and Genoa beat Sassuolo 2-1 with goals from Ruslan Malinovskyi and Caleb Ekuban.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Como's Nicolas Paz celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Inter, in Como, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alessio Morgese/LaPresse via AP)
Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram celebrates during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Inter, in Como, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Antonio Saiai/LaPresse via AP)
Inter Milan's head coach Cristian Chivu celebrates during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Inter, in Como, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Antonio Saiai/LaPresse via AP)
Parma's Nesta Elphege and Napoli's Juan Jesus, left, vie for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Napoli's Scott McTominay, right, celebrates after scoring the equalizing goal during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Napoli's Scott McTominay during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Napoli's head coach Antonio Conte shouts during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
Napoli's Scott McTominay attempts an overhead kick during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli, in Parma, Italy, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Golden Tempo showed exactly why he is a great closer, and his stretch run at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday delivered more history for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz from 12 lengths off the lead, Golden Tempo surged from the back of the pack to win the 158th rendition of the race. The victory came five weeks after his last-to-first charge to win the Kentucky Derby.
“Golden Tempo is amazing. Jose is amazing,” said DeVaux. “I think he needed to do this to kind of show that he was meant to win the Derby and that he is a horse that belongs in that conversation of being one of the top 3-year-olds.”
Golden Tempo held off Commandment to win by a length and a quarter at odds of 6-1. Commandment was second and favorite Renegade placed third.
“I followed them closely in the second turn,” Ortiz said. “They started to pick it up, so I did as well. I was just waiting for the right time to go all in. When I asked him to go, my horse responded.”
DeVaux, after becoming the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, is the second in four years to do so at the Belmont. Jena Antonucci won it with Arcangelo in 2023. DeVaux is the first woman to win multiple Triple Crown races.
“It’s overwhelming,” DeVaux said. “All the credit goes to Golden Tempo, who won the race, and Jose did a wonderful job of making it happen. But I’m just so fortunate to be in this position. It’s history-making, and I’ve kind of shied away from it, but I’m really grateful that I am that person.”
DeVaux was born in Saratoga Springs and began her training career there, but she doesn’t call herself a Saratoga native. She spends most of her time in Kentucky now and said she grew up in southern Florida. But after all the support she’s received from the town, she has started to embrace it.
“Everyone is kind of calling me the hometown girl,” DeVaux said. “So that’s kind of fun. I’m going to miss our appetizer (at) Saratoga, as we call it, the ‘Bellatoga.’”
Golden Tempo was the third choice in the race. There were concerns about whether he could pull off another big comeback win in a field that included Renegade. The Todd Pletcher-trained horse finished second to Golden Tempo by a neck in the Derby.
The pace was not nearly as fast as it was at Churchill Downs, yet Golden Tempo still was able to close in time to win the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:03.49. It didn’t matter, as he was the best in the field of nine horses.
“He wasn’t going to get that setup as he did in the Derby,” Ortiz said. “We all knew that, and I was a little worried about it. He needed some kind of setup. But today, there wasn’t one and he showed up today and won.”
Golden Tempo won two-thirds of the Triple Crown after DeVaux and owners decided to bypass the Preakness. He is the second horse in as many years to win the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont after not running in the middle jewel.
“We made our decision, and we won today and we’re going to be happy about that,” DeVaux said.
This was the third and final time for the Belmont at Saratoga in upstate New York, while its traditional home on the border of Queens and Long Island is getting demolished and rebuilt. Run at 1 1/4 miles because of the track at Saratoga, the race is set to return to Belmont Park next year when it will return to its traditional 1 1/2-mile distance.
“It’s so meaningful,” DeVaux said. ”A lot of family here. Saratoga, it’s been wonderful to have such a historic race here. ... It’s so meaningful because the town gets to have this and celebrate it along with us.”
Golden Tempo paid $14 to win, $7.32 to place and $3.88 to show. Commandment paid $7.02 to show and $4.08 to place, while Renegade paid $2.52 to place.
Ortiz followed Renegade, ridden by older brother Irad, just as he did in the Derby. It worked out just the same in the first Saturday in June as the first Saturday in May.
“He was bouncing a bit today, which made me very happy because I wanted him to be a little bit sharper today,” Jose Ortiz said. “You can see him, he’s very relaxed. He does what I ask him to do. That’s the main thing.”
Co-owner Vinnie Viola dedicated the race to his late friend Dominic DiPrisco, who died Wednesday at age 70. Viola prayed to DiPrisco Saturday morning, hoping for an extra push in the Belmont Stakes.
“I know you’re in heaven, and I love you, and this race is for you,” Viola said. “It means more than I can express in words right now.”
Ortiz won the Belmont Stakes for the second time, nine years after his first aboard Tapwrit in 2017.
“We just wanted him to get better and keep winning these kinds of races,” Ortiz said. “We’re very happy with him. It’s all about him.”
AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno in New York contributed.
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
Trainer Cherie DeVaux, center, with Jockey Jose Ortiz, left, holds the trophy after Golden Tempo won the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Trainer Cherie DeVaux, right, greet Golden Tempo (9) and Jockey Jose Ortiz after they won the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jockey Jose Ortiz celebrates aboard Golden Tempo as they are led to the winner's circle after winning the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jockey Jose Ortiz celebrates as he crosses the finish line aboard Golden Tempo (9) to win the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Golden Tempo (9) with Jockey Jose Ortiz crosses the finish line to win the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Spectators watch the second race of the day before the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jockeys walk thoroughbreds to the track for the second race of the day before the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
