The dust has settled from the 2009 edition of the Forest City Yearling Sale, which took place this past weekend at the Western Fair Agriplex in London, Ont., and Trot Insider has spoken with sale manager Randy Manges

for his thoughts on the two-day event.

The 2009 edition of the sale sold 29 less yearlings than in 2008, but the sale's average price dropped by seven per cent. The 2008 sale averaged $21,380 for 246 select yearlings, while the 2009 sale sold 217 select yearlings for an average of $19,942.

"It's tough to compare to last year," Manges told Trot Insider. "Last year was a whole different scene; you had a hot pacing sire in Western Terror. Everyone in Ontario had flocked to get his yearlings and Americans came up to get them as well. As a result, there were many horses that sold last year for over $100,000, but it is really hard to compare the two sales -- it was kind of like an apples-to-oranges type of comparison."

Manges went on to say, "I kind of expected that the same kind of results from Kentucky would carry through to the Forest City Yearling Sale. The middle (mid-ranged-priced yearlings) was strong down at Lexington and that did carry through to Forest City. Good horses in their (buyers') price range sell well up there."

The average price for the sale's 61 pacing colts proved to be the highest of the four categories, as it settled at $23,615. "I thought that the pacing colt market was strong, but I think the sale also benefited from the fact that there is not one overly dominant sire in any of the Ontario Sires Stakes divisions. That helps a great deal," Manges said.

The trotting filly category had the second-highest average, as the average price for the 48 yearlings was $21,240. The sale featured 45 trotting colts and the average price was $18,678. Sixty-three pacing fillies went through the ring, and the average price for them was $16,302.

"I was hoping that the overall sales average would be right around where it was," Manges told Trot Insider. "There was obviously the Lexington sale, the Standardbred Canada sale, and other smaller sales which preceded Forest City, so the average for Forest City was right around where I expected."

The sale featured a trio of $70,000 sale toppers, each of which sold during the first session on Saturday, October 17. The average price for the first session was $24,974. Click here to view the first session sale results.

"The breeders got the yearlings there in good shape," Manges said. "I spoke with some of the consignors after the sale and they seemed to be fairly pleased with the results. I was encouraged by the general feedback that I received from the sale."

Hip No. 38 Stonebridge Rocket, a Rocknroll Hanover--One Fine Cam colt consigned by Stonebridge Farm, was purchased for $70,000 by Gregg McNair of Guelph, Ont. The colt is a half-brother to the Apaches Fame son Stonebridge Galaxy (p,5,1:49.2s,$728,166).

Also consigned by Stonebridge Farm, Hip No. 72 Stonebridge Ballad, an Angus Hall--Velvia filly, garnered a matching bid by Ken Salter. The filly is a full-sister to Stonebridge Diablo (7,1:56.1h,$713,811) and current Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisional leader Stonebridge Diva (3,1:56.2s,$264,598).

Hip No. 88 Tymal Halo, an Angus Hall--Catchmeahalo filly consigned by Tymal Farms, was also purchased for $70,000 by Danterra Racing of Strathroy, Ont. The filly is a half-sister to the Mr Lavec son Tymal Cherub (2,1:56.4s,$167,061).

As for Day 2, Angus Hall trotting filly Glitterbdancing topped the second session after Frank O'Reilly, who was acting as agent, plunked down $65,000. For the sale results from session two, click here.

"The one thing that I have noticed in Ontario is that people that are going to the sales are not only there to make an investment in an industry and have some fun with it, they are also looking at it as getting right into a sport. People really want to get high quality racehorses."