Luck: Season 1

Released from prison after three years, "Ace" Bernstein plots revenge against the colleagues who betrayed him. With his trusted aide/chauffeur Gus Demitriou acting as a front for his race horse investment, Ace seeks to reverse the sagging fortunes of a famous racetrack. Meanwhile, four dissolute gamblers at the race track - Jerry, Marcus, Renzo and Lonnie - pool their meager resources to make a Pick Six bet that could be worth millions. A key to their fortunes is a long-shot horse trained by Turo Escalante, a self-made success story with loads of talent and few scruples, whoʼs also training Gus/Ace's colt. Walter Smith, another more grizzled trainer, sees classic potential in an untested thoroughbred with impressive bloodlines.

Chafing under his parole conditions but eager to move forward in the racetrack deal, Ace shows off his famous temper during a contentious meeting with one-time colleague Nick DiRossi and a possible investor, Isadore Cohen. Uncertain that fledgling jockey Rosie Shanahan is seasoned enough to ride his once-in-a-lifetime horse.

Ace enlists Nathan Israel, a cocky, young whiz kid, in his plans. Walter decides to enter his colt, Getting up Morning, in his first race, but loses Ronnie as his rider when the jockey takes a tumble. Burned by Mulligan at the claiming race, Marcus, Renzo and Lonnie send Jerry to buy the horse back.

As Chan challenges Jerry to his limits in a private poker game, Jerry's pals look to pry him away from his gambling nemesis. Ace takes a meeting with Claire LeChea, an activist who hopes to rehabilitate prisoners through their work with broken-down racehorses.

After learning that Pint of Plain, Gus' Irish horse, has been tentatively scheduled to race the next day, Ace forces Escalante to swap out Leon for a more experienced jockey, to Joey's chagrin. Marcus fears for his health and wonders why he's so attached to Jerry.

As Ace pitches his deal to buy a piece of the racetrack, Israel visits Smythe, DiRossi and Cohen onboard Smythe's yacht, where he's offered a "second salary" as an informant. An earthquake spooks many of the horses at Santa Anita, but Escalante decides to go ahead and race Mon Gateau. He and the Degenerates end up sweating the outcome when Leon bumps another horse in the stretch, triggering an official review. Rosie endures her own missteps in her race with Gettin'Up Morning, vexing Walter and inviting fresh scrutiny of the old trainer and his prized horse. Joey reaps an unlikely dividend from a neardeath experience, while Jo ponders an uncertain future with Escalante.

While Ace tours a prison outreach horse retirement farm with Claire, Israel tries to convince Smythe that his boss is on the level. Jerry and his erstwhile card dealer, Naomi, try to win their way into a poker tournament. Lonnie decides to "go it alone" by putting in a claim for another horse.

Ace ices out Smythe, DiRossi and Cohen as partners in the racetrack deal, but Smythe has other ideas. Weathering the ownership claim, Walter enters Gettin'Up Morning in the $1 million Western Derby - head-to-head against Ace and Gus' Pint of Plain.

Gus takes extraordinary precautions to protect his boss. As Jerry maps out a strategy for another big score, Escalante preps his race-day horses while keeping an anxious ear out for news about Jo, who's still in the hospital. Renzo welcomes his mother to town.