Brad Free's Santa Anita horses to watch from week of May 9

Brad Free's Southern California horses to watch from week of May 9, 2015.

DESERT THIEF
Trainer: Hector Palma
Last race: May 7, 7th
Finish: 2nd by 1
Beyer: 68
This pace-pressing filly lost her chance early in a sprint for California-bred fillies and mares. She broke last of 10, but finished willingly behind a gate-to-wire winner. She should be tough next time in a similar N1X for statebreds.

TOOWINDYTOHAULROX
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: May 8, 7th
Finish: 4th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 84
Stretching to nine furlongs after one sprint prep race, this colt could have finished second with a clean run, but he steadied at the eighth pole. He may prefer shorter; his next race will be his third start back.

BRONZE STAR
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Last race: May 9, 7th
Finish: 2nd by 4 1/4
Beyer: 83
First start in six months, this 3-year-old raced evenly in a highly rated N1X sprint dominated by front-runner Cherubim. Well-regarded Bronze Star is a lightly raced Tapit colt poised for a big second half of 2015.

GABRIEL CHARLES
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: May 9, 8th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 95
Blocked from the far turn into the stretch, this 5-year-old finished fast once finally clear but was too late in a Grade 3 turf mile won by Bal a Bali. This was a sneaky good effort by Gabriel Charles, who galloped out big past the wire. Upset chance June 13 in Grade 1 Shoemaker?