Santa Rosa: My Creed captures Lyttle

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - My Creed ($12), given a picture ride by Miguel Perez, won his stakes debut, winning the $46,245 James F. Lyttle Memorial Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair on Friday.

"You don't have to do anything, just sit on him and let him run," winning trainer Bob Hess Sr. said.

Perez sat behind Jeffries Bay and Razen Hazen, both of whom were trying two turns for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

He was positioned in a good stalking position early and moved even with pacesetting Jeffries Bay after the opening half-mile with Razen Hazen still a factor along the rail. Although three wide, he had momentum on the second turn and took the lead heading into the lane.

He won the race by two lengths over longshot Apollo King in 1:42.87.

"He told me to let him go and run wherever he wanted," Perez said. "He responded really well when I did ask him."

Hess said he told Perez not to take back but not to send, "just let him run comfortable.

"I imagined by the three-eighths pole, he'd be close to the lead. He was where he was without being pressed."

My Creed, who won his last start in a $40,000 optional claimer at Pleasanton earned $23,535 for his third victory in 10 starts. His career earnings are now $76,640.