Owner-trainer Brian Prichard’s 6-year-old How’s You Halo was sent off the longest price in the field of six older horses to line up for Saturday’s $150,000 Richter Scale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, and wore down Edmund Gann’s second-choice Ikigai in the final yards for a half-length decision under jockey Juan Leyva.

How’s Your Halo stalked the pace set by Ikigai down the backstretch of the seven-furlong test before returning $96.20 to win.

He had finished sixth behind Ikigai last out in the six-furlong Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) over the track on Jan. 17.

Lawrence Carroll’s Bold Start finished third, 2¼ length behind Ikigai, and Charles Fipke’s 11-10 favorite Tale of Ekati checked in another 1¾ lengths behind in fourth in his first start since victory in the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct in late November.

The winner was timed in 1:23:16 over the ‘fast’ track.

Winning Jockey Quotes

Juan Leyva:

“Everything went well with the horse. I knew we had plenty horse. The plan was to get in position and try to stay with Mr. (Marty) Wolfson’s horse. Coming from the outside I think helped us a lot. The horse really emptied the tank at the turn. I don’t know what the future plans are. I just hope I’m involved.”

Winning Owner-Trainer Quote

Brian Prichard:

“He had a little bleeding issue in his last race for the first time in his career, which we were able to take care of since then. This is my first win ever at Gulfstream. I claimed him here three years ago for $40,000. He’s run big races before, like finishing second to Benny the Bull in the Smile (G2) last summer at Calder. I told Juan (Leyva) to put him into the race. I thought we were the only horse in there that could put any pressure on Ikigai. I haven’t thought about what’s next. He might need a little break.”

Fractions:

22:37, 44:74, 1:09:37 & 1:23:16