America's Best Racing today announced the launch of season 2 of “A Stake in Stardom.” The expanded roster of personalities includes NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, FOX Sports reporter Lindsay Czarniak, Fox Sports talk show host Joy Taylor, ESPN's Anita Marks, and influencer/model Loren Izabel. They join returning 2022 inaugural participants, comedian/impersonator Joey Mulinaro and theater performer and influencer Sarah Cline, in becoming minority interest racehorse owners in partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds and Final Furlong Racing Stable.
Designed to immerse the newly minted Thoroughbred owners in the exciting world of elite Thoroughbred racing, A Stake in Stardom offers each the opportunity to experience the sport and lifestyle of Thoroughbred racing up close. They will attend major racing events, such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and Breeders' Cup World Championships, and visit historic destination venues, such as Keeneland Race Course and Saratoga Race Course, while sharing their insider access experience of Thoroughbred ownership with their fans and followers.
Season 1 of A Stake in Stardom proved successful as Mulinaro and Cline attended an array of race events and introduced the sport and lifestyle of Thoroughbred racing to more than 30 million people through their reach, producing more than 3 million video views of content they created sharing their ownership experiences.
“When we launched this pilot program in 2022 we viewed it as a tremendous opportunity to reach and attract new fans to racing. Last year's results proved out the model,” said Stephen B. Panus, president of TJC Media Ventures. “We are very grateful to have owners like Terry Finley and Vince Roth who understand the power of a partnership with America's Best Racing and the positive impact it has in growing the sport's future and helping to amplify the message that horse racing is truly a sport for everyone. Season 2 is shaping up to be an exciting year and we couldn't be happier to have both Joey and Sarah returning, along with the 2023 rookie class of Ian Rapoport, Lindsay Czarniak, Joy Taylor, Anita Marks, and Loren Izabel.”
West Point Thoroughbreds won the 2017 Kentucky Derby with Always Dreaming and the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic with the world's number 1 ranked racehorse, Flightline. They have won 1,023 races and amassed more than $69 million in purse earnings dating back to 2007, during which time they have captured 62 graded stakes wins. The syndicate was named by founder Terry Finley as a tribute to his alma mater. In partnership with America's Best Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds President and CEO Finley welcomes the following minority racehorse owners into his stable:
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport has covered the league since 2009, previously serving as New England Patriots beat reporter for the Boston Herald for three seasons. Now based in New York City, he also has covered the Alabama Crimson Tide for the Birmingham News and Mississippi State for the The Clarion-Ledger.
Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak is a FOX NFL and FOX NASCAR reporter. Prior to joining FOX Sports, Czarniak worked at ESPN from 2011 to 2017, anchoring “SportsCenter,” “SportsNation,” and “NASCAR Now.” During this time, she became the first woman to host the network's coverage of the Indianapolis 500 on ABC.
Joy Taylor co-hosts SPEAK, which airs weekdays on FS1, as well as the popular “Maybe I'm Crazy” podcast. She also hosts “The Joy Taylor Show” on FOX Sports Radio Saturdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET. Taylor joined FOX Sports in March 2016 for the launch of “SKIP AND SHANNON: UNDISPUTED” and served as the moderator on the debate show until July 2018.
Joey Mulinaro is an American comedian and impressionist, popular on social media channels Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, where he has amassed a following of more than 791,000.
Sarah Cline is a New York City-based musical theater performer and one of the main faces of CrownTok, a niche TikTok group of individuals who collect crowns and empower one another to harness their “Queen Energy.” Her social media following is more than 541,000.
Final Furlong Racing Stable was launched in 2012 by managing partners Dan Zanatta and Vince Roth and operates a unique model of investing solely in New York-bred fillies with the goal of a higher probability for success. Final Furlong has recorded 60 wins in 425 starts, including placing in the money 195 times. To date, they have amassed more than $3.2 million in purse earnings. In partnership with America's Best Racing, Final Furlong managing partner Vince Roth welcomes the following minority racehorse owners into his stable:
Anita Marks is a sports betting and fantasy football analyst for ESPN as well as a host on 98.7FM ESPN New York. She joined ESPN in 2016. Marks appears regularly on “Daily Wager,” ESPN's first daily program devoted to sports betting news and information. She also appears on ESPN's “NFL Live,” “SportsCenter,” and “Fantasy Football Now” programs. In addition, she hosts “The Anita Marks Show” on 98.7FM ESPN New York from noon to 3 p.m. ET on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays. Marks also hosts “Weekend Wager” – a weekly radio show discussing best bets and wagers on 98.7FM ESPN New York from 10 p.m. – midnight every Friday.
Loren Izabel is a social media influencer and Instagram model who is known for sharing lifestyle and fashion photos across social media.
“We're excited to return for Season 2 as a partner with America's Best Racing in A Stake in Stardom and thrilled to welcome Ian, Lindsay, Joy, along with Sarah and Joey, into the West Point Thoroughbred family and the world of Thoroughbred ownership,” Finley said. “We look forward to an exciting 2023 racing season to sharing the thrills and excitement with our new partners.”
“Being part of A Stake in Stardom is a dream come true for the stable. Allowing people to experience what ownership is like with us through the eyes of someone who shares similar interests will only attract more fans to our great sport,” Roth said. “We've always said racing stables could one day be like professional sports teams with each having their own unique fan base whether they share in direct ownership or not, and giving people this inside access this is another step in that direction.”
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