HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hall of Fame trainers Steve Asmussen and D. Wayne Lukas have been waiting all meet for Saturday afternoon. Clairiere, a $2 million earner from the barn of Asmussen, and Secret Oath, a Kentucky Oaks winner for Lukas, return from layoffs in the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile race will be the first since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff for both runners. Clairiere is ranked second in the division and Secret Oath sixth in Daily Racing Form’s weekly ratings from Dan Illman. “Go get Nest and put her in there and we’ve got them all,” Lukas said of the strength of the Azeri, which drew nothing but stakes winners. “It’s pretty solid top to bottom. Any one of them you could make a case for, and for most of them a win would be no surprise.” :: Take your handicapping to the next level and play with FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic.  The field of eight includes Grade 2 winner Interstatedaydream, Grade 3 winner Hidden Connection and four-time stakes winner Lovely Ride. The Azeri is part of a series of stakes for fillies and mares at Oaklawn that culminates with the $1 million Apple Blossom on April 15. Clairiere, 5, is owned by her breeder, Stonestreet Stables. Asmussen is looking forward to what’s ahead for Clariere, last year’s winner of the Ogden Phipps and Shuvee. “I think she’s better than ever,” he said. “We expect her to have a huge year because she’s truly a special horse.” Clairiere closed from 11 lengths back to finish third, beaten a head, in the BC Distaff on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Clairere was then freshened, said Asmussen. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 3 on the mare, who might get an ideal setup courtesy of speedsters Hot and Sultry, Lovely Ride, Interstatedaydream and Hidden Connection. A strong pace would also suit Secret Oath. She used her closing kick to win the Kentucky Oaks over Nest. Lukas is hoping for more of the same this year from the daughter of Arrogate who races for breeder Briland Farm. “I’m anxious to see if she can sustain that devastating kick she’s got,” Lukas said. “As a younger horse, she had that kick that carried her an eighth of a mile to three-sixteenths. Now, as an older mare, I’m looking for her to carry it three-eighths to a half-mile. She has new strength and development to be more effective.” Secret Oath met older rivals for the first time in the BC Distaff and finished fifth. Earlier in the year, she won the Martha Washington and Honeybee at Oaklawn and also ran fourth in the Preakness. “The Breeders’ Cup came at the end of a long, hard 3-year-old campaign,” Lukas said. “She kept running against the best coast-to-coast, so it was very creditable. We’ve had that vacation time now, and she’s thrived on it.” Secret Oath has been working at Oaklawn. She breaks from the rail under Tyler Gaffalione. “I feel like we’re coming up to it in great shape,” Lukas said. “It’s a little tougher than you’d like for a coming-out party. That’s the way it is. We’ll see. She’s ready.” :: Bet the races on DRF Bets! Sign up with code WINNING to get a $250 Deposit Match, $10 Free Bet, and FREE DRF Formulator.  Hidden Connection has recency on the top two choices. She was second in the Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 28 at Sam Houston. It was Hidden Connection’s third start in the last four months. “She’s had several races under her belt,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “Each one’s gotten a little better, progressing in the right direction. I think she’s in peak form and now. We’ve just got to see if she’s good enough. It’s a very good group of horses.” Hidden Connection set the pace in the Houston Ladies, won by Pauline’s Pearl, who returns Saturday in the Beholder Mile at Santa Anita. “I thought she ran really, really well,” Calhoun said. “I don’t know if the off track hurt us or helped us. We’re hoping to see a fast track.” Reylu Gutierrez has the mount from post 6. Interstatedaydream, who won last year’s Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico, is making her first start since August. “We freshened her up and gave her time off at the farm,” said trainer Brad Cox. “It’s a very, very good race. We’re hooking two very good fillies that are Grade 1 winners. It’s a tall task off the layoff. I expect her to run well. We’ll see how it goes.” Florent Geroux has the mount for Staton Flurry. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.