Rosario wins both stakes, 5 overall, at Belmont

NEW YORK (AP) Joel Rosario rode five winners - including a sweep of both stakes- Saturday at rainy Belmont Park.

In the main event, Rosario guided Sentiero Italia to a 3 3/4-length victory over Blond Me in the $500,000 Sands Point Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

Perfectly positioned in second behind the pacesetting Cara Maria, Sentiero Italia took command turning for home and maintained a comfortable margin through the stretch run. It was the second straight stakes win for the filly trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.

She captured the Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga last month.

The time was 1:48.83 for 1 1/8 miles on the course rated good.

Sentiero Italia paid $5.40, $3.50 and $2.70 as the 8-5 favorite. Blond Me returned $12.20 and $7.80, and Miss Temple City paid $3.60 to show.

Rosario also was aboard Tacticus, the front-running winner of the $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes at the unusual distance of 1 5/8 miles on the main track.

A 4-year-old trained by Graham Motion, Tacticus improved his record to 4 for 12.

The time was 2:44.66 as Tacticus beat V.E. Day, the 2014 Travers winner, by 3 3/4 lengths.

He paid $6.10 to win.