SARATOGA SPRINGS – After getting socked by torrential downpours Tuesday and Wednesday, the Old Spa took it on the chin again yesterday. In between long stretches of sunshine, the skies opened up on several occasions, dumping nearly an inch of rain on the track.

As a result, there’s a good chance the meet won’t see its first turf race until at least tomorrow. Today’s sixth was taken off the grass yesterday afternoon, and according to track superintendent Jerry Porcelli there is a good chance the Grade 2, $150,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap will be transferred from a mile-and-an-eighth over the Mellon turf course to the same distance on the main track.

No matter what happens, expect several scratches in the field of 11 veteran daisy cutters, because even if the race stays on the lawn, the conditions will be squishy as a bog. That works against last year’s Baruch winner, Del Mar Show, or Patrol, both trained by Bill Mott. But it gives an edge to Rouvres, a Group 1 winner in France who’s accustomed to soft turf, and Tap the Admiral, who’s won a couple of races over yielding courses. Slew Valley could also be dangerous at a big price if he shakes loose early.

If the race winds up on dirt, then Rock Slide is the horse to beat.

El Gran Papa, trained by Bobby Frankel, also shows some solid main-track efforts in his pp’s, including an allowance victory here last summer.