Isaac Castillo, who regularly ranks among the leading riders at Monmouth Park, will be wintering at Oaklawn, his agent, Dylan Fazio, said Tuesday. 

Castillo swept into Arkansas for the final month of the Oaklawn meet last season and made an immediate impact. He won 21 races from 106 mounts for mount earnings of $1.3 million, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. 

“We’ll be there the whole meet,” Fazio said.

Castillo came over from Tampa Bay Downs last season after finishing second in the 2021 standings at Monmouth. The 24-year-old rode his first career winner at Monmouth, on May 29, 2017, according to records from Daily Racing Form.

Fazio said Castillo will begin working horses at Oaklawn as soon as the track opens for training in early November. The meet begins Dec. 9.

“We kind of made a home in Hot Springs,” Fazio said of last season. “It’s like a second home for us. We love it over there. It was a great experience and we can’t wait to come back.

 “There’s great opportunities in all aspects. The purses are excellent. The people over there are very welcoming. They’ll give you an opportunity.”

Castillo won stakes with Leader of the Band and Fuerteventura during the most recent meet at Monmouth. His biggest career win came in the track’s $500,000 Nownownow in 2021, aboard Dakota Gold.

 Oaklawn will begin receiving horses in its stable area Nov. 1. The track will open for training Nov. 5 and published works will begin Nov. 7, said Jennifer Hoyt, director of racing for Oaklawn.

The meet runs through May 6.