This was where in 2007 Mackey surged, a move that eventually carried him to victory in Nome. A year ago, he pulled into the Kaltag checkpoint two hours, 42 minutes behind King. By the time the two mushers left the next checkpoint of Unalakleet 90 miles away, Mackey owned a 45-minute lead.

This year, however, the roles are reversed. Mackey is trying to hold off King.

"I'm not sure they're going to have what it takes," Mackey told The Associated Press of his 14-dog team before leaving Nulato earlier Saturday. "But I'm not giving up. A lot can happen between now and Nome."

Despite slowing down and cutting his rest in checkpoints, Mackey remained in front. He drove his team off the Yukon River at 9:36 p.m. Saturday, but stayed just seven minutes in the Kaltag checkpoint before starting the always-rugged 90-mile run across the Kaltag Portage to Unalakleet.

King, by contrast, rested in Kaltag four hours, 19 minutes before following Mackey onto the 1,100-mile trail at 3:44 a.m. And a recharged Paul Gebardt, who has climbed back into contention in third place, left at 5:50 a.m.

Mackey, the 37-year-old Fairbanks musher, said his dogs were finally responding to medicine for lingering diarrhea that's affected their appetites. His team, which thrives in subzero weather, also has struggled with unseasonably warm conditions along the trail.

"I think Jeff is traveling a little faster right now," Mackey told the Associated Press in Nulato. "I'm going to do everything I can to keep (him from passing me). But in all honesty, I think he's in control."

Before heading off to the village school for a nap, King tended to his team, throwing the dogs a pre-meal snack of frozen meat.

"Here you go," he said as he scattered straw on the snow. "That what you looking for?"

King was still behind a full string of 16 dogs. "They're all fine." he said.

Gebhardt, who arrived in Nulato just as Mackey was taking off, carried the ashes of his prized leader, a 4-year-old male named Governor, who bled to death in November after eating a rock that ruptured his intestines. Gebhardt, 51, scattered the dog's ashes Saturday along the river at Bishop Rock, halfway between Ruby and Kaltag.

"He was always a really, really good runner along the river," he said. "It's kind of like I freed his spirit."

Earlier in the race, Gebhardt lost crucial time after becoming disoriented near the Cripple checkpoint, but he's managed to hold his team together and creep back into contention -- though he maintained that victory was outside his grasp.

"I wanted to win, but I've already screwed that up," he told the Associated Press. "I've reset my goal to at least finish in the top 10."