Christmas presents can bring smiles or smirks and sometimes something in between.

The inaugural Manfuso Stakes and the return of the Carousel Stakes, which carried grade 3 status from 1988 through 1997 and was last run in 2002 at Laurel, were among six $100,000 stakes on a nine-race Dec. 26 program.

Epicenter took strides toward a potentially bright future with an authoritative 6 1/2-length victory in the inaugural $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes, earning 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby along the 1 1/16-mile way.

Two runners who had broken their maidens on the dirt but had now found a home on the grass found themselves back on the main track, locked in a dramatic duel to the wire in the Dec. 26 $200,000 Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G3).

Jockey Flavien Prat asked for just a bit as Flightline turned for home and the quick burst that followed would be all the talented son of Tapit would need to put away six other rivals in the Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.

Repole Stable’s Never Surprised scored a popular gate-to-wire 6 1/4-length victory Dec. 26 in the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park, while Bipartisanship upset the Tropical Park Oaks on the same card.

Shaaz, a 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo who topped the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale, got up in the final strides to win his debut over highly-touted Hopkins and Q B One in the fourth race at Santa Anita Park.

Kalypso became the first grade 1 winner for her young sire Brody’s Cause with a dominant score Dec. 26 in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

On opening day at Santa Anita Park, Express Train provided his owners with some holiday memories by just edging classic-placed grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie in the $201,000 San Antonio Stakes (G2).

Bob and Jackie won a scratch-shortened, off-the-turf edition of the San Gabriel Stakes (G3) on opening day Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.