Fluffy snow provided a picturesque winter day on the Fur Rondy trail Saturday but also the right conditions for Willow musher Bill Kornmuller to keep his lead after the second day of sprint racing.
"Bring it on," Kornmuller said of the large flakes that fell on the Anchorage Bowl.
The 55-year-old banked $1,950 in day-time winnings for finishing Saturday's 25-mile heat first in 1 hour, 29 minutes and 48 seconds -- 40 seconds faster than runner-up and two-time defending Rondy champion Buddy Streeper of Canada.
Kornmuller, whose two-day winnings increased to $3,250, will take a 2 minute, 11 second lead over Streeper in Sunday's final heat that starts at noon.
The 12-time Fur Rondy veteran has never won the winter festival's marquee event. But if Kornmuller wins Sunday's final heat, he will have earned a total of $12,350 -- $5,850 in day-time winnings and $8,450 for the final payout.
He would also become the first American musher to win the 60-year-old race since 1993, when Roxy Wright won.
Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.
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By KEVIN KLOTT
kklott@adn.com