Contessa pencils in $450,000 newcomer Laddie Liam for new stakes

Laddie Liam, a record $450,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December Mixed Sale, has a new race target for trainer Gary Contessa after missing the Jan. 1 Jerome Stakes with a shed frog.

The frog, a soft tissue, triangle-shaped portion of a horse’s inner hoof, acts as a shock absorber as well part of the circulatory system. “I worked him twice, and the second time I worked him he shed it, which is a very natural occurrence,” Contessa said. “When you shed the frog, you expose a very soft, painful part of the foot.” Rather than hit the 2020 Kentucky Derby trail to open the new year, Contessa gave the DJ Stable newcomer a few days to heal, using iodine and epsom salts to toughen up the area. Laddie Liam, a Maryland-bred son of Golden Lad, then breezed a half mile Saturday in 48.29 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. The colt’s new goal race is the Feb. 8 Jimmy Winkfield, a seven-furlong event for 3-year-olds. From there, connections will eye the March 7 Gotham (G3) around a one-turn mile. The Gotham is the first major Derby prep in New York paying out qualifying points on a 50-20-10-5 basis to its Top 4 finishers. Last year’s Gotham hero, Haikal, also used the Jimmy Winkfield as his springboard to the Derby trail. Laddie Liam was scheduled to put in another breeze Friday, “but my assistant is telling me he probably won’t make it because the weather is not good,” Contessa said, with the weekend an option, too. Laddie Liam has won three of five career starts, taking the Maryland Juvenile Futurity on Dec. 7 in his most-recent outing. Days later, he went through the auction ring as part of his former owner Joe Besecker’s dispersal.