STANTON, Del. - Eleven months ago, Island Sand nearly died from complications following routine surgery for an entrapped epiglottis. Although veterinarians were able to save her life, trainer Larry Jones estimated it was a "one in a million shot" she would ever again be the same filly who won the Grade 1 Acorn at 3.

Nine months after returning to racing and more than a year since her last victory, Island Sand proved she's better than ever by drawing clear for a 3 3/4-length win in Sunday's $1 million at Delaware Park.

STANTON, Del. - High Limit looked like the lone speed in a field of five 3-year-olds, a prime reason the public made the winner of the Louisiana Derby a solid 3-5 choice in Sunday's $300,000 at Delaware Park.

But when High Limit broke in a tangle, Rafael Bejarano, riding Sun King alertly urged his colt to the lead.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Premier Dance handled the wet track and rallied from off the pace to win the $75,000 Middleground Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park on Saturday. The victory gave leading jockey Cliff Berry a sweep of the two 2-year-old stakes on the card. Earlier on the program he won the $75,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup with Hosanna Hit.

With double-digit horses finishing first through fourth in the eighth race Saturday, the superfecta paid $27,389.40 on a dime. There was one winning ten-cent ticket, and it was sold at Penn National.

The winner took the whole pool.

Lumbre won the race at 29-1 and paid $61. He was followed under the wire by Jonesy Rabbit, who was second at 20-1; Gold Expedition, third at 15-1; and Andanight, fourth at 33-1.

The payoff was a meet-high for a ten-cent superfecta at Lone Star.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Dee Dee's Diner, claimed for $80,000 on May 19, led throughout the $76,875 Valkyr Stakes to score her third consecutive win.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Dee Dee's Diner ($5.20) finished six furlongs in 1:09.55. She finished a length in front of Tucked Away. Crowded Room finished third in the field of five California-bred fillies and mares.

Owned by Chris Coleman and trained by Ted H. West, Dee's Dee's Diner, 5, has won 8 of 22 starts and $321,022.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Desert Boom led every step of the way under Roberto Gonzalez to defeat Lord of the Game in the $138,000 , highlight of the seventh annual Claiming Crown series Saturday at Canterbury Park.

Desert Boom, a northern California invader owned by Bob Bone and trained by Art Sherman, returned $4.60 as the second choice. A 5-year-old California-bred gelding, Desert Boom entered off a victory in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields, and was one of three graded stakes winners in a field of six.

English Channel is halfway to $5 million.

English Channel pulled away to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $750,000 at Colonial Downs on Saturday. English Channel ($4.20), who extended his winning streak to four, has now won the first two legs of the $5 million Jacobs Investments Grand Slam of Grass.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - What a Song underwent a crash course in race tactics to remain unbeaten in Saturday's $104,500 at Hollywood Park.

What a Song took dirt in his face on the backstretch, circled two rivals on the turn, and fought past a tough Bashert to win by a neck. Sent off favored in the field of five, What a Song ($3.60) finished six furlongs in 1:09.55.

"He got an education out of this," winning trainer Bob Baffert said. "I like his style. He got a good test and it's nice to see. He's a good horse."

ELMONT, N.Y. - Excitement turned to concern for trainer Stanley Hough after he won the $150,000 with longshot Cacht Wells at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Cacht Wells, with Eibar Coa aboard, won the 1 3/8-mile turf race by a head over Relaxed Gesture, the even-money favorite. As Coa was galloping out, he felt Cacht Wells take a misstep and he pulled him up and dismounted. Cacht Wells was removed from the track by ambulance.

STANTON, Del. - R Lady Joy picked up only small pieces of the purse in her first two tries against graded stakes company, including a decisive loss to Round Pond, the even-money favorite in Saturday's $500,000 .

But trainer Kirk Ziadie was brimming with confidence for R Lady Lady Joy's first start in nearly two months in the Oaks.

Not a lot of people shared Ziadie's optimism, as bettors sent off R Lady Joy at 17-1, the second longest shot in a field of six 3-year-old fillies for the Grade 2 Oaks. Ziadie, however, got the last laugh.