Luck

(Out of prison after three years, "Ace" Bernstein and his aide/chauffeur Gus Demitriou plot a purchase to reverse the sagging fortunes of a famous racetrack. Four dissolute gamblers at the track pool their meager resources to make a Pick Six bet that could be worth millions and grizzled trainer Walter Smith sees classic potential in an untested thoroughbred.

Ace shows off his famous temper during a contentious meeting with one-time colleague Nick DiRossi and a possible investor, Isadore Cohen. Although Marcus is weary about flaunting his newfound wealth, his three partners have no such qualms. Uncertain that Rosie Shanahan is seasoned enough to ride his once-in-a-lifetime horse, Mr. Walter enlists Ronnie Jenkins as his mount.

Ace enlists a cocky young whiz kid named Nathan Israel in his plans. Walter decides to enter his colt, Gettin' 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 -- and then return him to Escalante to train.

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 activist Claire Shea and visits his one-time partner Michael Smythe to discuss his participation in Ace's racetrack venture. With Ronnie out of commission, Walter settles on Rosie as his jockey.

After learning that Gus' Irish horse, Pint of Plain, 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, while Kagle, who's been fired from the racetrack, returns from a bender looking for a handout.

Ace pitches his deal to buy a piece of the racetrack, while Smythe flips Israel into 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, while Rosie endures her own missteps with Gettin'Up Morning, vexing Walter and inviting fresh scrutiny.

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. Ronnie tries to get his life, and career, back on track.

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. Unable to make weight, Leon loses his mount, Joey comes through for Rosie and a stable accident jeopardizes Jo's pregnancy.

Gus takes extraordinary precautions to protect his boss. As Jerry maps out a strategy for another big score, Escalante preps his race-day horses. Renzo welcomes his mother to town. Mon Gateau runs his biggest race yet. Ace and Gus join an expectant crowd for the showdown between the two stars of Santa Anita, Pint of Plain and Gettin'Up Morning.