The “Love at First Bet” promotion this February at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet offers a $10 bonus when you bet $100 or more at select tracks each Tuesday and Thursday. Penn National will be the track spotlighted for this Thursday for its opening night of the 2026 season. Here’s how I’ll approach with the help of the Betmix Angler database.

Penn National: Race 3

#9 Uncle Money (7-2 morning line odds) was claimed at the end of the ’25 season knowing full-well the 2-month winter shutdown was coming. Trainer Brandon Kulp got out of the gate last February by going 7: 4-1-1 with horses exiting 50-day layoffs or more, and note last year at Penn was 10: 5-1-1 with horses first off the claim who were off that same layoff span or more. Win bet #9.


Penn National: Race 7

#1 Heaven Street (3-1 morning line odds) has fit very well since dropping to the lower claiming levels and trainer Tim Kreiser is more than capable of holding this veteran’s form off a layoff. The barn wins 29% at Penn National off layoffs of 60-plus days the past 3 years, including 5-for-10 when paired when go-rider Angel Cruz. Win bet #1.