Clutch Player Dead of Pneumonia

Kaleem Shah’s Clutch Player, who broke his maiden last month in his first start and was considered a possible prospect for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), died Jan. 4 of pneumonia, Daily Racing Form reported.

The colt, by Malibu Moon out of the Awesome Again mare Riverkeeper, won a six-furlong maiden special weight event at Hollywood Park by four lengths in 1:08.91.

Trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form the colt became sick Jan. 1 and was sent to the Chino Valley Equine Hospital. "In 72 hours, he was gone," Baffert told the paper. "The mood here has been pretty somber."

Clutch Player was sold twice, bringing the same $170,000 price both times, first at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky summer yearling sale, and the following year at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Clutch Player was bred in Kentucky by Riley Magnum.