Kleedehn, Neff ahead in Yukon Quest's second half

Yukon Quest mushers William Kleedehn and Hugh Neff were the first to arrive Friday in Eagle, Alaska, as mushers in the 1,600-kilometre sled dog race move into the second half of their journey.

Kleedehn, of Carcross, Yukon, was the first toleave the checkpoint in Eagle at 1:49 p.m. Alaska time Friday, according to the race's website.

Kleedehnwas followed into Eagle by Hugh Neff, an Alaskan who lives near WhitehorseonAnnie Lake Road. Neff arrived at the checkpoint at 11 a.m., and can leave at 3 p.m. In third place Friday was Alaskan musher Jon Little.

The remaining Quest mushers have left or are leaving the Dawson City checkpoint, where they were required to stay for a 36-hour layover prior to entering the Alaskan half of the trail.

Two mushers dropped out of the Yukon Quest in Dawson City in the past 24 hours. Veteran musher David Dalton of Healy, Alaska, officially scratched at 1:22 a.m. Friday in Dawson.

And in a move considered surprising among mushers and fans, Hans Gatt of Whitehorse announced Thursday that he is leaving the Quest for strategic reasons.

Gatt, a three-time Yukon Quest champion, said he wants to make sure his dogs are in top shape for the Iditarod, the 1,850-kilometre racethat begins March 7 in Alaska.

"When I drove my team over from Scroggie Creek into here, they were just looking really, really good. And I thought to myself, 'I really want this team at [the] Iditarod start,' " he told reporters in Dawson late Thursday.

Prize increases if mushers drop out

"If I were to continue to race to finish the Quest, it would have been absolutely jeopardizing my Iditarod efforts. And that is the main reason why I decided to drop out."

Gatt said the U.S.-based Iditarod is more important to him at this point. The winner of that race will take home twice as much in prize money as the Yukon Quest, as well as a new truck.

The winner of the Yukon Quest receives at least $30,000 US. The amount increases for the winner if mushers decide to withdraw before reaching the end of the trail.

Other mushers who complete theQuest will receive smaller amounts from the $150,000 US prize purse.

By comparison, the Iditarod offers a top cash prize of $69,000 USandthenew truck.

The withdrawals of Gatt and Dalton leaves 24 mushers remaining in the Yukon Quest, which began Saturday in Whitehorse and ends in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Japanese rookie musher Yuka Honda was handed a 30-minute penalty in Dawson for equipment issues. Currently in 22nd place, Honda can leave the checkpoint on Saturday morning.