Brent Sass wins Yukon Quest 550

Eureka musher Brent Sass scored his fifth Yukon Quest win Wednesday night time, crossing the Fairbanks end line along with his 12-dog crew at 7:45 p.m.

Sass was favored to win this yr’s 550-mile model of the Quest, and he did simply that with greater than a three-hour lead over his closest competitor, Amanda Otto. 

He was greeted by a crowd of dozens of cheering followers within the end chute who braved single-digit temperatures to look at the crew cost up the ultimate hill on the banks of the Chena River. 

Sass was led into Fairbanks by Slater and Pink, two brothers and veterans from his Iditarod champion crew final yr. 

“Slater’s one of the best sled canine I’ll most likely ever drive,” mentioned Sass. 

The 7-year-old is nearing the tip of his racing profession, and Sass mentioned he was making an attempt to take pleasure in each second he might with him, however he’s additionally excited in regards to the future.

“I’ve obtained like 13 of his little kids proper now, so I’ve excessive hopes for the long run,” he mentioned. 

Mushers reported glorious path situations and a number of the greatest snow protection they’d seen over the race’s two summits, which groups needed to navigate twice as they traversed a brand new course from Fairbanks to Circle and again to Nenana, earlier than ending in Fairbanks. 

This yr was additionally the primary time the Quest — historically a 1,000-mile race from Fairbanks to Whitehorse — was held over a 550-mile distance after the Canada and Alaska board of administrators break up up this spring over a guidelines disagreement about necessary relaxation. The Alaska race finally opted for little necessary relaxation at checkpoints. Sass mentioned that allowed him to stay to a constant run-rest schedule. 

“The large factor for me was to maintain the runs shorter, 50 to 60 miles and never do the massive pushes between checkpoints,” he mentioned within the end chute, surrounded by handlers and supporters.

For the win, Sass will take dwelling $40,000, a part of a $100,000 prize purse on this yr’s Quest. 

Simply earlier than midnight, Sass’s crew was adopted unexpectedly second-place finisher, 28-year-old Amanda Otto. 

Otto’s crew yelped within the end line and pulled of their harnesses, apparently keen to maintain working down the path. 

The canine’s vitality was particularly spectacular contemplating Otto had made the second to final run —  100 miles —  from Two Rivers to Nenana with out stopping to camp. Alongside the way in which, she slingshotted in entrance of some high groups, together with Nic Petit and Wade Marrs. Otto performed down the run, regardless of being the one musher to attempt the technique. 

“On the finish of the day I used to be simply on the market working the canine, snacking, watering, working canine for 100 miles,” she mentioned on the end.

She mentioned she’d thought in regards to the plan beforehand, however finally simply watched the canine. She overtook Marrs and Petit even after their groups had camped on path. 

“I wouldn’t usually try this lengthy of a run, however they have been up for the problem and so they excelled,” she mentioned. 

Otto, a former semi-pro soccer participant, was working a canine crew from four-time Iditarod Path Sled Canine Race champion Jeff King’s kennel, the place she’s labored for the previous a number of years. 

King, who dealt with for Otto alongside the path, mentioned he’s been impressed with Otto’s athleticism and dedication to the minute wants of the canine. He mentioned he might image her profitable the Iditarod some day.

“Simply,” he mentioned. “She’s obtained the pinnacle of a champion.”

He mentioned he suspects Otto’s success on the Quest will encourage her to maintain racing. 

Otto mentioned she’s undecided what she’ll do together with her $30,000 in winnings. 

“It’ll most likely return to the canine,” she mentioned. 

Wade Marrs of Wisconsin completed in third place, adopted by Cody Strathe, Nic Petit and Riley Dyche.