#creaturelover

Grotesque Moi! Update #21

I’ve been working on the next creature illustration for Grotesque Moi!. As it usually happens, I’ve come to a point where I have to work out a design change.

My original sketch had the stinger and claws turned the wrong way.

First I inverted the stinger then adjusted the shapes.

Next are the claws. This is where I’m still playing with the design.

OMG, I LOVE RUROUNI KENSHIN!

To be honest, I enjoy your posts. Rooting for your athletes is what the Olympics is about! And congrats on so many doing well!

To be honest, I enjoy your posts. Rooting for your athletes is what the Olympics is about! And congrats on so many doing well!

Creaturelover asked about what I said about not liking Goldencents partly due to Kevin Krigger's tantrum following the San Felipe (II). If you followed the race, you would clearly remember the early, insane duel between favorites Flashback and Goldencents, which ultimately set things up for the two closers Hear the Ghost and Tiz a Minister. Ghost won, Flashback hung on for second after getting by Goldencents, and Tiz a Minister was up for third. Goldencents got tired after the duel, and began to hang in the stretch when he was passed.

In response-- and this was covered by the media-- Kevin Krigger put Flashback's rider Julien Leparoux on blast, criticizing him for the ride.

Coming into the first turn, I got him to turn off (relax), and I was surprised, as good of a rider as Julien is supposed to be, the move he made around the turn to make us have a dogfight race all the way around. Turning into the backstretch, that’s like committing suicide, you know? If we’re going that fast easily, it’s understandable, but to pressure a race like that . . . being on a favorite, that’s not a favorite’s ride at all. He had the ideal scenario going into the first turn, and I mean, my horse came up tired today. There’s not much else I can say.

Talk about making excuses.

We all know Goldencents likes to be up front, but to expect Leparoux to let you have it and not let his horse run as he sees fit is stupid. This is a race, and a major one too with a big purse and Derby points on the line. Why the hell wouldn't Leparoux pressure Goldencents? That's what race riding is all about. YOU HAVE NO CASE AND YOU ARE MOANING ABOUT IT LIKE A SORE LOSER.

Had Goldencents won the duel and held off Ghost I suspect he would be singing a much different tune. What did you expect him to do but tire after getting rank going :22 and :45 and fall victim to a closer? He changed things up in the Santa Anita Derby and let Goldencents cruise on autopilot. Ironically, that is pretty much what Leparoux did with Flashback one race back. Flashback had a cruddy rail post and didn't break quick enough to gain leverage in the Santa Anita.