Gary Stute, 52, trains Ar kansas Derby winner Papa Clem, a solid fourth in the Kentucky Derby. This week, Stute shares his thoughts with Post readers as he pre pares Papa Clem for Satur day’s Preakness — a race Stute’s father, Mel, won with Snow Chief in 1986. As told to Ed Fountaine.

BALTIMORE — As Papa Clem turned for home in the Kentucky Derby, I was ecstatic. I thought we had a heck of a shot.

The last few years, I’ve gotten a little more religious. I usually talk to God every morning on the way to work, and I told Him, “All I ask, God, is don’t let me embarrass myself, and let me be able to root when they turn for home.”

I should have put in, “And run 1-2-3.”

I forgot that part. But He gave me everything I asked for, so I can’t complain.

With a little luck in the Derby, Papa Clem could easily have been second; he was beaten by only a nose and a head. I was a little disappointed, but like my dad said, nobody remembers who ran second anyway.

It was kind of neat being back at the Pimlico stakes barn yesterday morning, just like we were back with Snow Chief. To this day, my dad and I still share the same help.

When he won the Preakness, that was probably the best day of my life. Because that year’s Derby was probably the biggest disappointment of my life. Snow Chief was coming into that race 100 percent sound, doing great. He won the Florida Derby and the Santa Anita Derby, and he was the Kentucky Derby favorite.

To be honest, it was a good lesson in life, because I didn’t think there was any way he could possibly lose. For him to run so bad, to finish 11th — I didn’t see any excuse watching the race.

Then to come back and win the Preakness against a pretty good bunch — Ferdinand, Broad Brush, Badger Land — was redemption. Just like it would be for Papa Clem.