Brent Sass is the 2019 Yukon Quest winner after reaching the finish line in Fairbanks, Alaska, just before 1 p.m. local time on Monday, with a full team of 14 dogs.
Leading him into the finish line were Sluice and Morello. Eleven of his 14 dogs were rookies, while the other three were part of his 2015 winning team.
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B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e definitely not rookies anymore,B次元官网网址� said Sass. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 wait until next year. TheyB次元官网网址檙e really going to have the knowledge and the know-how. They never hesitated a bit B次元官网网址� they just kept getting faster.B次元官网网址�
This is SassB次元官网网址檚 12th year running the race.
B次元官网网址淚 think I really tried to just ignore my competitors and not really care about anybody,B次元官网网址� said Sass.
B次元官网网址淚 jumped off the ice on Birch Creek there and had a really solid run. I figured it was cold out, and there was very little chance of anybody blowing through Central, so I gambled. It just puts a few more miles on you before you go over Eagle Summit, which is always a test.B次元官网网址�
He said this race was extra special because of his dog Jeep, who was a sprint dog for one of his good friends B次元官网网址� Joee Redington B次元官网网址� before Redington died.
B次元官网网址淛oee always said when we were chatting and hanging out, that this dog right here could run a distance race,B次元官网网址� said Sass. B次元官网网址淎fter Joee passed away, I bought Jeep B次元官网网址� and said, B次元官网网址榊ouB次元官网网址檙e going to be a distance dog.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 trained him for two seasons and he was phenomenal. I mean, he led over 500 miles of the race. B次元官网网址� I know JoeeB次元官网网址檚 spirit was out there with me the whole way smiling down on us.B次元官网网址�
Sass was the third musher to start the race, leaving the start line in Whitehorse at 11:06 a.m. on Feb. 2 with nine dogs.
When mushers arrived in Dawson City for the 36-hour layover, it was Sass leading the way. He reached the checkpoint at 11:24 a.m. on Feb. 5 with a 30-minute lead on rival Michelle Phillips.
As the first musher to reach Dawson and finish the race, Sass wins the Dawson Award B次元官网网址� two ounces of Klondike placer gold. Sass has previously won the award in 2015 and 2016.
