Lavishly produced and expertly written, Luck centers on intuitive tough guy and regular gambler Chester “Ace” Bernstein (Hoffman). Recently released from prison, Ace teams with Gus Economou (Dennis Farina), his longtime chauffeur and muscle, to craft a complex plan involving the Santa Anita Racetrack. While plotting Ace’s strategy, the pair recruits Turo Escalante (John Ortiz), a successful trainer with a sordid reputation. In the meantime, old trainer Walter Smith (Nick Nolte) nurtures a possible breakthrough thoroughbred, while a ragtag group of four-racetrack groupies band together to try to catch lightning in a bottle – as winners of an elusive Pick Six bet.  

Consisting of nine one-hour episodes, Luck opens with Ace’s release from prison and his vow to seek vengeance on the colleagues who betrayed him. With his trusted aide/chauffeur Gus acting as a front for his racehorse investment, Ace seeks to reverse the sagging fortunes of a famed racetrack. Directed by Mann, the premiere episode introduces the diverse group of characters that will piece together the drama’s centerfold.  

Luck was shot on location at the Santa Anita Racetrack and other locations around Los Angeles. Series regulars include Hoffman, Nolte, Farina, Ortiz, Richard Kind (HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm), Kevin Dunn, Jason Gedrick, Ritchie Coster and Ian Hart, among others.  

Executive producers of Luck include series creator David Milch, Carolyn Strauss and Michael Mann. Henry Bronchtein and Eric Roth worked as co-executive producers, while Hoffman served as producer apart from leading the cast. Lilly Kilvert carried out production design.