Buxton Hill back on right course

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - With only eight cards remaining in the meet - and a forecast that calls for rain this weekend - it is not surprising that four of the nine races at Aqueduct on Friday are scheduled for the turf.

A first-level allowance race for New York-bred males was split in two divisions, and accounts for the co-features on the card. Both races are run at 1 1/16 miles.

The first leg, which goes as race 7, looks to be the more competitive of the two. won his turf debut last April over this course, but went winless in his next seven starts. He ended his 3-year-old season with a neck loss to Wave the Baton in a second-level allowance race last December over a yielding Aqueduct turf course.

Trainer Richard Schosberg put Buxton Hill away for the winter, because, as Schosberg put it, Buxton Hill "can't stand up on the dirt."

Buxton Hill spent the winter on a farm in Ocala, Fla., where he began training in February. Since arriving in Schosberg's barn, Buxton Hill has worked four times, and Schosberg said, "I expect a good effort from him."

Jose Santos will ride Buxton Hill from post 8.

Trainer Joe Lostritto, who won Wednesday's nightcap on the turf with 17-1 shot Award Seats, sends out Glory for Gold, who won his turf debut last November over this course. Glory for Gold, hasn't run since finishing sixth in a dirt race on Dec. 31. Kent Desormeaux rides.

is 1 for 17 but he finished just two lengths behind Buxton Hill last December. Decourcey, who makes his first start for trainer Pat Kelly, has to overcome post 10. Couth, a winner in his only turf try, is another to consider.

looms a short-priced favorite in the second division, which goes as race 9. Unraced until this, his 5-year-old season, Irving's Doers won his maiden at Tampa Bay in January before running third and then second in first-level allowance races at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Robert Barbara said he was forced to go to Tampa because Gulfstream didn't write races for 5-year-old maidens.

"He got into all kinds of trouble, everything happened to him, and he still won," Barbara said of Irving's Doers's debut. "He ran against open company at Gulfstream and he ran great both times. The horse [Norfield] that beat him last time out I think is a pretty nice horse, and we were gaining on him. I think this is a good spot."