CBS’s Tracker star Justin Hartley’s joined by his real-life wife, Sofia Pernas, for episode six, “Lexington.” Pernas guest stars as Billie Matalon, a fellow bounty hunter/rewardist who’s also on the case of Argo – a missing racehorse – stolen in the middle of the night.
Colter Shaw (Hartley) meets with the horse’s owner, Hugh Lazlo, and learns Argo’s got a Kentucky Derby qualifier coming up in three days. Thus, the massive $250,000 reward. If Argo can place in the Derby, then Hugh’s family will be able to charge a five-figure stud fee for the rest of his life.
The police aren’t really interested in the case and have deemed it low priority. Fortunately, Colter’s got something to go on as the security team has detailed information on when the theft occurred and how long it took to respond. Based on the short time span and the equipment involved, the thief knew exactly what he/she was doing.
Technically, Argo is owned by four people, but Hugh is responsible for the horse’s daily care. Hugh’s currently separated from his wife, Tina, who’s also a co-owner. They’re on the verge of a divorce, and Colter senses Hugh believes she’s involved. Hugh reveals the thief took Argo’s pedigree papers, and Tina’s the only other person with access to the safe containing the papers.
Hugh also explains that Tina’s current boyfriend, Redford James, owns a horse named The Gates of Hell. James’ horse would have better odds of winning if Argo didn’t race. Tina is currently living with Redford.
As Colter is leaving, he runs into Billie, who’s also anxious to score a huge payday. She’s done her homework and is sure Redford wasn’t involved. Colter disagrees, and the conversation turns to their past super-short relationship as business partners. Billie loves the idea of beating Colter to the reward, and Colter can only chuckle at her optimism.
Teddi (Robin Weigert) and Velma (Abby McEnany) check in and apologize that they didn’t know this wasn’t a “private hire.” They’re just as surprised as Colter that Billie’s also on the case. Colter asks them to find out everything they can about Redford James, and they confirm that Redford’s hosting a black-tie gala that very evening.
Colter wrestles up a tux and introduces himself to Tina and Redford at the party. They’re both aware he’s a tracker and surprised he’s in attendance. Tina knows Hugh suspects them, and Redford describes Hugh as certifiable and out of control.
Tina and Colter speak privately, and Tina insists that while Hugh is obsessed with Argo, she would never hurt the horse. She loves Argo and wouldn’t put him in danger. Argo’s two other co-owners join the conversation and thank Colter for his help. The threesome describes their partnership as wonderful, and Tina adds that they complement each other.
Colter spots Billie and then heads upstairs to look around. He’s opening cabinets when Billie speaks up, and Colter claims he knew she was in the room the whole time. (Her perfume gave her away.)
After a little uncomfortable reminiscing about the past, Colter volunteers to watch the door while Billie breaks into the safe. Colter goes through a drawer and finds betting slips for the Lexington Cup. The bets are on The Gates of Hell and Argo to finish first and second, with either horse in either spot winning.
Colter and Billie argue over who sold who out on their one and only case as partners while she opens the safe. Colter confesses he trusted her, and she suggests that after five years they both should move on from this argument.
Billie cracks the safe and the papers on Argo aren’t inside.
They’re forced to hide under a desk as a security guard checks out the room. Once he’s gone, they return to the party and Billie decides they should team up. Colter is stunned she’d make the offer, but Billie believes they can solve the case quicker by working together. They could split the money and go their separate ways.
Colter says he’ll consider it and later, after the party, Velma and Teddi are adamant he should turn Billie down. However, Colter’s worried that Billie is a step ahead of him. Velma and Teddi remind him that Billie left him high and dry – and being chased by thugs. They don’t want to get tricked out of another reward.
Still, Colter’s considering the partnership. “Just no, Colter. Just no,” says Teddi.
The following day Colter pays Billie a visit, and she immediately assumes the answer is yes. Both Colter and Billie have ruled Redford out as being behind the theft, and they decide the next step is to visit the crime scene. They walk through the barn and go over the time frame minute by minute. Whoever did it brought a horse trailer onto the property, cut the barn’s padlock, tripped the security alarm, loaded up Argo, and drove off without anyone noticing.
The stable door camera was covered, and the security cameras at the two gates don’t show anything unusual. The spray paint used on the stable door camera is a standard issue, so tracking down who bought it is impossible. Plus, there are too many tire tracks to pin it down to the right trailer.
Colter is beginning to suspect this whole thing is a setup. He scans the nearby fence and finds a cut spot. “Argo wasn’t driven out of here in a trailer. He was ridden out by one person,” says Colter.
They question Hugh about their theory, and Hugh finds it difficult to believe. Argo didn’t like strangers and was tricky to ride. Tina could ride him, but Hugh reveals he was with her going over bills when the alarm went off.
Next, Colter and Billie ask Argo’s veterinarian Dr. Glenn about the missing horse. The vet explains Argo’s personality changed after Hugh and Tina split up, and he only knows two people who could ride him: Argo’s former jockey and his trainer, Dan Flynn.
Colter and Billie have Bobby dig into Dan Flynn and learn he was fired six months ago and is currently homeless. Plus, he got into a fistfight with Hugh recently. Bobby tracks his phone and he’s only a few miles away right now. Colter and Billie head to the phone’s location and discover Dan’s dead body. Billie hears the coroner say he was shot twice the night Argo was stolen. They both deduce Dan stole the horse and was supposed to meet the person who hired him to do it at this location. The killer took Argo after murdering Dan.
Billie keeps the cops sidetracked while Colter looks around. He spots hoofprints and a syringe labeled Xylazine HCL – a horse tranquilizer. That probably came from a vet, which means Billie and Colter need to speak with Argo’s doctor and Hugh again.
Colter fills Hugh in on the new developments, and Hugh’s sure that Dan’s not a criminal. He had a drinking problem and couldn’t be by the horses. Hugh gave him money and told him to get help. Hugh also reveals a message just came in on the tipline from someone who thought they saw Argo at a red barn on Route 23. The horse the caller saw had a bandaged back leg – just like Argo. Hugh didn’t tell anyone about Argo’s leg injury, so he thinks the caller is legitimate.
Meanwhile, Billie speaks with Dr. Glenn about the horse tranquilizer. Billie lies and says someone’s outside messing with the doctor’s truck, and after he leaves, she locks the door and searches his desk. She finds Argo’s medical file and when Colter calls, she describes Argo as a “pin cushion.” There was more going on than a back leg injury. He was being shot up with sedatives, painkillers, and steroids.
Billie wonders how they got past race officials, and Colter confirms it’s easy. He’s also aware the FBI is currently investigating the industry.
Billie continues looking through Argo’s records and discovers Argo is infertile. She thinks the vet is being paid to dope horses illegally.
Colter has Bobby look up who owns the red barn and dig into Dr. Glenn.
Night falls, and Billie and Colter make it to the red barn. It’s empty and smells like gasoline. The door slams behind them and Colter works on prying it open as a fire breaks out inside the barn. He’s unsuccessful and they head upstairs to the loft. Colter kicks open a door, and they leap to safety just as the flames are about to overtake them.
Safely in his truck, Colter takes care of a deep cut on Billie’s hand as they go over everything that’s happened. They now believe it’s all been a setup and that at least one of the owners was behind the theft to hide the fact that Argo was too injured to race and infertile. Colter thinks Hugh and Tina were unaware of Argo being doped up or the extent of his injuries.
Having their lives threatened changes everything, and they’re about to kiss when a call from Bobby interrupts the moment. He’s followed the money and tracked it to Stuart Tyler, one of Argo’s owners. The money also shows Stuart recently purchased a remote pastureland.
Billie and Colter head to the remote pasture and Argo is there, along with a few other horses. Colter grabs Argo and brings him to the trailer, only to discover Billie being held at gunpoint by Stuart. He has Colter drop his gun and orders him to load Argo in the trailer.
Stuart is going to stage it to look like they found Argo and then, overcome with greed, they killed each other. Colter doesn’t think that’ll fly and Billie suggests he just pay them off. Colter goes with it, and reminds Stuart they aren’t cops. Stuart claims Dan turned on him at that last minute, and that’s the only reason he killed him.
Colter glances down at his gun and Stuart foolishly makes a move to grab it. Billie kicks him and maintains his attention while Colter gets possession of his own gun and Stuart’s.
Colter delivers Argo to Tina and Hugh, and they’re both incredibly grateful to have their horse back. They can’t believe Stuart was behind the whole thing, and they’re shocked he was paying off Dr. Glenn to pump Argo full of steroids. Colter breaks the news that Argo’s infertile and can’t race or provide stud services. Stuart was keeping that info to himself so as not to void the insurance policy.
Hugh is fine with Argo’s condition, and he and Tina say this will always be Argo’s home, even if he’s done racing.
The episode ends with Billie confirming the FBI is now certain Stuart was behind everything. Unfortunately, they’ve frozen his accounts, including the escrow account with their $250,000 paycheck. Billie’s sorry this was a huge waste of time, but Colter believes it was a win for Argo, Hugh, and Tina. Plus, she was right; they had a good time working together.
Colter confesses he thought about double-crossing her, and she admits she thought about it, too. Colter suggests they have dinner and go over how they were planning on pulling it off. But Billie asks for a rain check since she has a job she needs to get to in Austin.
They say their goodbyes and Colter heads off, alone.
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