Owner has winners on horse and dog tracks

ST. PETERSBURG — El Cap Restaurant served more than burgers and beverages this past weekend.

It offered a huge helping of buzz — thanks to the dog and pony show of Mary Jean Bonfili, who is celebrating her 35th anniversary this month as owner of the Fourth Street N eatery.

Twenty-four hours after her greyhound Craigie Teller finished second in a photo finish at Derby Lane, Bonfili recorded her first Saratoga Race Course victory on Aug. 16, when her thoroughbred Benny Is a Jet, a 12-1 shot, scored a gate-to-wire starter-allowance win at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The victory by Bennie Is a Jet, bred in Ocala by Bonfili, was full of area connections. The 4-year-old gelded son of 2008 Eclipse Award champion sprinter Benny the Bull was ridden by Tampa Bay Downs 2005-06 leading jockey Jose Lezcano, who had ''El Cap" inscribed on his silks. The dam is the Bonfili-owned Ashley and I, a winner of 15 races who gave Oldsmar trainer Barbara McBride her 1,000th career victory in 2008. Benny Is a Jet had not won since breaking his maiden on April 17 at the Downs.

The Michael Dini trainee earned $33,000 for Bonfili, who gained her 17th victory in start No. 137 in horse racing. After Bennie Is a Jet won, a rival owner offered to buy him privately. Bonfili said, "No way!" Bonfili has been a thoroughbred owner since 1999, when she claimed Bud's Golden Girl.

Prodding from Derby Lane kennel owner Jim Abernathy led Bonfili to buying Craigie Teller, her first greyhound.

"I would see (Abernathy at the El Cap), and he always said to me, 'Are you still messing around with the thoroughbreds? You need a greyhound.' (Finally) I said, 'Well, go get me one.' "

Abernathy purchased Craigie Teller at the National Greyhound Association spring meet sale in April for $5,000.

"Craigie is fast, big and very playful," Bonfili said. "He has got a real nice stride on him, and likes to get out in front and go.

"I think there's nothing more beautiful than a dog or a horse fully extended in a run. They're happy doing that. … that's what they like to do."

Craigie Teller, a 23-month-old male out of a litter by Kiowa Mon Manny and Mani Sweet, has won three of 13 starts under trainer Kayruth Abernathy, Jim's wife. On July 22, he clocked a career-best time of 30.52 seconds at 550 yards. It was the fastest time recorded that day by 214 dogs in 27 races at that distance.

"Ninety-nine percent (of new owners) do it for the enjoyment," Jim Abernathy said. "They realize it's going to take a while to make their money in the dog business."

"(Owning a dog) is just fun, exciting," Bonfili said.