Looking forward to the seminar but have a different take on the trainers decisions.
Baffert knew that Pletcher was picking immediately behind him and reasoned that his colt had more early lick, so he took 16. If Pletcher takes 15, (likely), this gives him a buffer to his inside because there is a gap between the gates with the first fourteen horses in the main gate, and the balance in the auxillary.
bin Suroor did not want any part of the inside. At Churchill, a ten panel race starts out of the chute, and the chute is bent inward much like a worn out paper clip.
The oddity or poor decision was from the Chocalate Candy crowd. Picking third they chose number 11 which puts them standing in the gate for what will seem like an eternity while the \"last\" 18 are loaded. Just my take. bbb