What could be better for a thoroughbred owner than having a starter in the Kentucky Derby. Two, of course!

Member of Starlight Racing and Skychai Racing, two Kentucky-based racing partnership organizations, came together on April 28 to double their Derby chances by purchasing leading contender General A Rod, who hit the board in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby after winning the Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year's Day.

Starlight already had Risen Star Stakes winner Intense Holiday in Saturday’s Derby and Skychai is co-owner of Harry's Holiday, a stakes winner at Turfway Park who also has a berth in the classic.

Those entities join Ken and Sarah Ramsey in making this the year of duos in the Derby.

The Ramseys will send out We Miss Artie and Louisiana Derby winner Vicar's in Trouble in the Derby.

Starlight has concentrated on yearling purchases with great success since its formation almost 15 years ago. Intense Holiday and General A Rod will represent the group's fifth and sixth Derby starters, following Harlan's Holiday (sire of Intense Holiday), Monba, Sam P, and Keyed Entry.

Skychai bought an interest in juvenile champion Hansen before his run in the Derby two years ago.

Starlight and Skychai came together two months ago to make a first bid to buy General A Rod, but they came up dry until last weekend when the colt's owner Jose Rodriguez re-engaged them.

The deal got done in a two days for the son of Roman Ruler.

One day after the purchase was finalized, General A Rod breezed in blinkers at Churchill on Tuesday under jockey Joel Rosario.

Starlight Racing has enjoyed tremendous success with runners like champions Ashado and Shanghai Bobby and stakes winners Purge and multiple G1 winner Octave.

Harlan's Holiday and Monba both won the Blue Grass Stakes before they ran in the Derby.