Joe Chindano Jr. registered his 1,000th career driving victory when he won the seventh race with Mr Cool Seaeyre N during a four-win night at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
In the milestone race, Chindano oversaw a wire-to-wire victory by Mr Cool Seaeyre N ($3) in 2:04 for trainer Candace Brandstatter-Hall, winning the $8,630 optional-claiming race by 2-1/2 lengths over a "sloppy" track.
Chindano was introduced to harness racing by his father, Joe Chindano Sr., and mother Theresa, who operate their own racing operation, and has been driving horses since he was 13 years old. He made his first start his first win when he drove Kevins Apple to victory in a matinee race at Goshen Historic Track in 2012. From there, he went on to drive at New York county fairs from 2015 to 2017. In 2017, he also got his provisional license and started driving at pari-mutuel tracks. Since then, Chindano has appeared at all tracks in New York state plus Pocono Downs, Rideau Carleton Raceway and The Meadowlands. He was a regular winter resident at Pompano Park from 2019 until 2022, when the track closed.
Chindano has been a member of the Western New York driving colony for several years and has become a sought-after catch-driver on a nightly basis. Since 2023, he has won 242 races and recorded in excess of $1.8 million USD in purses at Batavia alone. For his 6,596 career starts, he also has 948 seconds and 900 thirds to go along with his 1,002 wins, giving him a lifetime UDR of .277. The reinsman has more than $8.2 million in career earnings.
Chindano will close out 2025 posting career totals for wins and earnings, currently sitting at 214 and $2.3 million, respectively. At the current Batavia meet, he sits second in the standings with 82 victories.
The reinsman later won the featured $12,055 Fillies & Mares Class A Pace with Major Megan, who led through fractions of :29, 1:00.3 and 1:29.3 before turning for home and holding off the pesky Tres Chic Bluechip (Drew Monti) to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.1. Won Surreal Deal (Kyle Cummings) finished third.
Major Megan ($4.86) is trained by Ron Beback Jr. and owned by Summer Wind Stable of New York. The five-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar-Sgt Molly Pitcher is now 21-for-102 lifetime.
Chindano's other winners were Echo De Meautis Fr (2:04.4, $6.52) and Cool Clifford (2:03.4, $4.80).
In the sixth race, Maczaffair N (Shawn McDonough) scored her 50th lifetime win with a 3-1/4-length romp in 2:02. The classy 12-year-old New Zealand-bred mare, owned by Morrison Racing Stables and trained by her driver, reached the 50-win mark in 208 starts. The daughter of Mach Three-Presidential Affair took 21 wins while racing in Australia and now has 29 in North America.
Trainer Candace Brandstatter-Hall led all conditioners on Wednesday by winning three races on the 13-race card. Brandstatter-Hall won with Grinder (2:03, $23.34) along with the aforementioned Echo De Meautis Fr and Mr Cool Seaeyre N, who both helped Chindano reach his goal. The trainer is now 63-for-366 on the year.
Live harness racing will resume at Batavia for the final time this year on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. There is a $1,312 carryover in the Pick-5 wager in the first race and a $2,004 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 15th race. Both pools will be guaranteed at $10,000 and will be mandatory payouts to close out the meet. The guarantees are made in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program, and as such full past performance programs will be free to download (when available) for all races involved in both wagers from the USTA website (ustrotting.com) under the "Handicapping" tab.
Saturday night will also feature a slate of activities during Fan Appreciation Night with something for everyone, regardless of age. Promotions include $2 USD betting vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis (the first 100 customers) and $1 USD programs onsite. Fans will also have a chance to win a variety of prizes by spinning the Batavia Downs Prize Wheel. There will also be a meet and greet with drivers before the races. For the kids, there will be a special" Grinch versus Elf" showdown race on the track and then they can visit Santa Claus in his special Finish Line Suite in the grandstand.
And after the last race, year-end awards will be presented trackside.
(With files from Batavia Downs)