Dangerous Walla Walla shipper back

AUBURN, Wash. - It isn't often that a horse who raced last at tiny Walla Walla can win a race at Emerald Downs, much less a feature race, but Height of Summer appears poised to do just that.

Height of Summer, a 6-year-old trained by Tracy Lebret, heads a field of seven older sprinters in Friday night's headliner for $15,000 claimers at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Height of Summer has raced at mainly small tracks, winning 12 of 45 starts and finishing in the money 36 times.

But last October, Height of Summer sprang an upset in the six-furlong Inaugural Handicap at Portland Meadows, beating such accomplished foes as Slewicide Cruise and Lethal Grande. And just two races back, he finished a close fifth in a $20,000 dash at 6 1/2 furlongs at Emerald on Aug. 3.

Height of Summer tuned up for a return here with a sharp win in a five-furlong handicap race at Walla Walla on Sept. 1, and will be coming back off short rest on Friday.

Height of Summer figures to get his sternest opposition from Devilish Fact, who is stepping up off a sharp win over $10,000 rivals on Aug. 5. Devilish Fact, trained by Sharon Ross, ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in a quick 1:15.60 to win by 2o1/2 lengths that day and would be hard to beat with a similar effort on Friday.

Also dangerous is Knights-bridge Road, a stakes winner who has been knocking at the door in sprints against $15,000 claimers in his last three starts.