05/04/2026
Not every winning story starts in first place. 🥇
Cherie Devaux didn’t follow a straight line — she followed the work.
From studying pre-med to becoming an exercise rider…
From years in the stables to nearly a decade as an assistant…
To stepping out on her own in 2018 — building a career one start at a time.
Then came her 1,800th start. Her 299th win. The defining moment.
🌹 Golden Tempo went from dead last to Run for the Roses champion. Beating 23-1 odds.
After 17 women came before her, Cherie became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby in 152 years.
So what does that tell us about running a small business?
👉 It’s not luck. It’s the long game.
👉It’s the pivot when the plan changes.
👉The reps when no one’s watching.
👉The bet on yourself before anyone else does.
👉And the belief that just because it hasn’t been done… doesn’t mean it can’t be.
(P.S. The hat deserves its own trophy 🏆)
