From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishin the popularity/fashion etc stakesin the popularity/fashion etc stakesCOMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEATused when saying how popular, fashionable etc someone or something is Ben wouldn’t score very highly in the popularity stakes. → stake
Examples from the Corpus
in the popularity/fashion etc stakes• Although still carrying the hallmarks of a true fishing port, Padstow is fast gaining ground in the popularity stakes.• They are running neck-and-neck in the popularity stakes. 