The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division) Canadian premier yearling sale posted a higher gross on Thursday from a significantly larger catalog compared with 2016, but the average and median prices saw mild declines. A trio of yearlings topped the auction, each selling for 85,000 Canadian dollars. The single-day auction closed with 204 horses sold for $3,630,000, up 4 percent from last year’s gross of $3,481,800 for 181 horses. However, the average sale price dropped 7 percent to $17,794 from $19,236, while the median declined 9 percent to $10,000 from $11,000. Thursday’s buyback rate finished at 29 percent, up from 28 percent in 2016. Three Canadian-sired colts tied for the day’s most expensive price, including two by Victor’s Cry, who has since relocated to Indiana. William and Anna Scott were the first to reach the co-highest price, purchasing a Victor’s Cry colt out of the winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare Vulcan Rose. The bay colt’s first two siblings to race are both winners: the Scat Daddy colt Flameaway and the Spring at Last filly Ellan Vannin. Flameaway sold for $400,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale. Bred in Ontario by Phoenix Rising Farm, the colt is from the family of Irish Derby winner Salsabil, Group 1 winner Marju, Grade 2 winner Essential Edge, Group 3 winner Athens, and 2017 Queen’s Plate runner-up Tiz a Slam. Phoenix Rising Farms bought Vulcan Rose in foal to Niigon for $20,000 at the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Susan Foreman consigned the colt as agent for the breeder. Second to hit the mark was a Not Bourbon colt who sold to trainer Roger Attfield. Bred in Ontario by Charles Fipke, the chestnut colt is out of the Grade 1-winning Giant’s Causeway mare Internallyflawless, a Fipke homebred whose two foals to race are winners, including stakes winner Internal Bourbon, a full sister to Thursday’s co-topper. The colt is from the family of European champion Bosra Sham and French 2000 Guineas winners Hector Protector and Shanghai. He was consigned by Richard Hogan, agent. Rounding out the trio was another Victor’s Cry colt, this one going to Barry Kerbel. The chestnut colt is out of the unraced Grand Slam mare Miss Dragonfly, whose two winners from four starters feature stakes winner Dragon’s Cry, also by Victor’s Cry. Bred in Ontario by Goldmart Farms, the colt is from the family of Grade 2 winner Fire Slam and Grade 1-placed Crafty Prospector. Hogan consigned him as agent. Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency finished the auction as the top consignor by gross, with 34 horses sold for $630,800. Leading the group was a $75,000 Old Forester filly who sold to Bear Stables and Colebrook Farms. Attfield was the day’s leading buyer, with four purchases totaling $196,000. :: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales