A Horse for Danny

Precocious eleven-year-old Leelee Sobieski (as Danielle "Danny" Fortuna) won't make friends with kids her own age, which worries uncle Robert Urich (as Edward "Eddie" Fortuna). Instead, the cute tomboyish little Ms. Sobieski like to hang around the racetrack, with stableman Ron Brice (as Gerald) and bookie Erik Jensen (as Mooney). Showing good horse sense, Sobieski persuades Mr. Urich to invest in a rambunctious yearling. He's quickly ready to send off to the races, but will "Tom Thumb" bring home the bacon?

"You know what you're trouble is," Urich tells Sobieski, "You're too old for your age."

Probably, the cute kid acting wiser than her years was supposed to be this dull TV movie's main appeal. This story may also be attempting originality by discarding some "kid with a horse" film clichés - there is no traditional young romance, no traditional tear-jerking scene, and young Sobieski doesn't even ride "A Horse for Danny" to his climactic big race; instead, Brian Michael (as Kent) takes the reigns. There is some ending drama on the track, though. The autumn Kentucky locations are the highlight.

**** A Horse for Danny (4/8/95) Dick Lowry ~ Leelee Sobieski, Robert Urich, Ron Brice, Gary Basaraba