Diligent Prospect back quick

AUBURN, Wash. - Diligent Prospect will be coming back in eight days on Saturday when he heads a field of seven older sprinters in Emerald's feature, a 5 1/2-furlong dash to be run under $40,000 optional claiming conditions.

Diligent Prospect, a 6-year-old from the barn of trainer Charlie Essex, finished a troubled third in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance test on opening night that was won by Wasserman in 1:02.20. Diligent Prospect was beaten just a little over three lengths in that race, and he certainly would have been closer if he had not been forced to steady at the quarter pole before racing blocked through much of the stretch. Diligent Prospect, a winner of 6 of 19 career starts, including three stakes, will break from post 5 under regular rider Kate Repp. He is one of four in the field who will race for the $40,000 tag.

In for a tag for the first time since his maiden win is Livinonlovanadime, who will be returning from a lengthy absence for trainer Jim Penney. Livinonlovanadime, a 5-year-old, graduated for a $30,000 claiming price in his second start at 2 in 2005. He won both of his starts at 3, including the one-mile Tacoma Handicap, but he has not been to post since running seventh to The Great Face in last year's opening-day feature. Livinonlovanadime, who will go from the outside post under Juan Gutierrez, is coming off a bullet six-furlong workout in 1:13.60 on April 18.