SARATOGA SPRINGS — A mid-afternoon cloudburst that dumped heavy rain and hail on Saratoga Race Course cost Thursday’s

feature race its star attraction.

With I Lost My Choo on the sidelines, scratched when the race was moved off the turf, it was Raffie’s Treasure that struck gold.

Trained by Dominic Galluscio, Raffie’s Treasure ($14.20) overcame an awkward start and went gate to wire to win the $150,000 Statue of Liberty Division of the New York Stallion Series by 93⁄4 lengths.

Under Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux, Raffie’s Treasure ran 11⁄8 miles in 1:53.48 on a sloppy main track. Study Abroad, the 6-5 favorite, was second, followed by Ommadon’s Frenzy.

“We were very fortunate that it came off the turf,” said Galluscio, who picked up his first winner of the meet. “I did feel bad for [trainer] Phil Serpe and their connections. He was the heavy favorite on the turf, but it just worked out my way this time.”

Breaking on the outside of her four rivals, Raffie’s Treasure was hustled to the front by Desormeaux before settling in on the inside.

A 3-year-0ld daughter of Raffie’s Majesty, Raffie’s Treasure was able to coast along on an uncontested lead, running a quarter-mile in :24.54 and a half in :49.11.

“Kent and I discussed it, and we thought that there was no speed in here,” Galluscio said. “By the quarter pole, I thought we’d be all right, because she gets the mile and an eighth easily.”

With Cornelio Velasquez and Study Abroad in pursuit, Raffie’s Treasure was able to shake loose turning for home and drew off for her second win in four career starts.

“Dominic made a call in the paddock,” Desormeaux said. “She gets into a little tussle with the starter, so he said, ‘Let’s try something today. Tell the starter to leave her alone, just step out and let her break by herself.’

“She actually turned her head still to the right when the doors opened, but the fact was, she broke running, so we were able to engage, and she enjoyed the going.”

Galluscio wasn’t displeased to see the race, originally carded for 11⁄16 miles on the inner turf course, come off the grass. Raffie’s Treasure ran sixth in her previous two starts at Belmont Park, beaten more than 37 lengths combined, after breaking her maiden by a nose in April.

“We figured we would try the turf because it was going to be a short field,” Galluscio said. “The sire gets a lot of horses that win on the mud.

“When she broke her maiden first time out, I thought she was going to be a good filly, and then she had a couple of excuses in her last two races. She got off bad in one and the last time the track was real sandy, so I don’t think she cared for it. She showed herself today.”