I am sure he can ask for a recount if he pays. The question is why bother? It would take a miracle to make up 1.5%. I suppose he thinks there is no downside. It’ll just cost money, but if he’s got money in the bank, why not use it?
It won’t be cheap, so the initial assumption is he must think there is something there, as the votes needed to make up the difference are fairly substantial. Either that, or he’s excessively wealthy, or has excess campaign dollars still lying about, and just wants to find out. But the option is supposedly there for him, if he can afford it.