..good direction, great camera work, and most of all:
great cast
you can tell they did their homework.
i've heard rumblings that the pilot was difficult to follow for some, but that's the world of horse racing in general. so many layers, so many characters, and more than enough drama to hold your interest.
*the initial convo btwn farina & hoffman (in the car) was redundant. there's a much better way to establish presence, hierarchy, and position without handin' it to the viewer in one take.
as with any series, the pacing will be crucial but this cast should be able to hold it down.