LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 15-horse field drawn Monday for Friday’s $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs has combined to win 23 stakes - 16 of which are graded - and includes three undefeated horses, one of whom is a champion. “In a normal year I would be really confident, but this may be the best Oaks that I’ve seen,” said 86-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Oaks winner who this year sends out Secret Oath, a winner of two graded stakes. “I don’t know that I’ve seen a deeper, stronger Oaks.” To that point, Echo Zulu, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly who has won all five of her starts including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, was made the 4-1 third choice in the morning-line after drawing post 7 in a field limited to 14 starters. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures “Her 2-year-old form isn’t going to win Grade 1 3-year-old races,” said Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Echo Zulu. “She’ll have to improve considerably from the Fair Grounds Oaks to the Kentucky Oaks. She has a chance to.” Echo Zulu won the Fair Grounds Oaks by nose over the late-running Hidden Connection, who is in this race and drew post 3 for trainer Bret Calhoun. Nest, winner of four of five starts including the Grade 1 Ashland, was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite. She drew post 4 and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. “We wanted to be somewhere in the middle,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “That’s close enough.” Nest, a daughter of Curlin, is one of three horses entered by Pletcher, who has won this race four times including last year with Malathaat. Pletcher also sends out Goddess of Fire and Shahama. Shahama, an undefeated daughter of Munnings, will be making her first start for Pletcher. She won all of her starts in Dubai, including the UAE Oaks, for trainer Fawzi Nass. “You have to respect the fact she’s undefeated,” Pletcher said. “The competition is probably not as good as what she’s facing here. Still, to be able to win four in a row is hard to do.” Kathleen O., the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, is also 4 for 4, including victories in the Davona Dale and Gulfstream Park Oaks. Her trainer, Shug McGaughey, won the 1993 Kentucky Oaks with Dispute but hasn’t run in it since Yell finished third in 2003. Kathleen O., a closer, will break from post 10 under Javier Castellano. “I thought it was a good post - speed on the inside of her,” McGaughey said. “Even if she doesn’t break that well, it’s not going to matter. The way she broke at Gulfstream, I think she’ll break good and put herself in a position. It’s up to Javier from there and see if she’s good enough.” The field, with riders, from the rail out is, Secret Oath (Luis Saez), Nostalgic (Jose Ortiz), Hidden Connection (Reylu Gutierrez), Nest (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Goddess of Fire (John Velazquez), Yuugiri (Florent Geroux), Echo Zulu (Joel Rosario), Venti Valentine (Tyler Gaffalione), Desert Dawn (Umberto Rispoli), Kathleen O. (Javier Castellano), Cocktail Moments (Corey Lanerie), Candy Raid (Rafael Bejarano), Shahama (Flavien Prat) and Turnerloose (Manny Franco). Beguine, beaten a neck by Yuugiri in the Grade 3 Fantasy, is on the also-eligible list. She would need a scratch between now and 9 a.m. Friday in order to run. “I want to run,” trainer Danny Peitz said. “I’m not going to be crazy about being in the 14-hole if I draw in, but maybe she’s going to like an outside draw. I know she’s going to have to step up a little bit, but I have some question marks about some of the favorites.” The Kentucky Oaks will go as race 11 on a 13-race card that begins at 10:30 a.m. Post time for the Oaks is approximately 5:51 p.m.