Embattled Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca had a light day of work yesterday, and maybe his horse should have taken a breather as well. Lo Duca played two innings in the Mets’ 3-1 victory over the Nationals, and the horse he part-owns finished way out of the money in a big stakes race at Del Mar.

Divide and Conquer, a 7-1 shot, finished fifth out of eight entrants in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes. The 2-year-old colt owned by the Little Red Feather Racing group, which includes Lo Duca, broke slowly out of the No. 7 hole and was never a factor losing by 7 3/4 lengths.

Divide and Conquer, ridden by New York veteran Norberto Arroyo Jr., had won his only previous start in a $48,000 maiden race at Hollywood Park in July.

Lo Duca owns shares of at least 11 horses and his connection to the sport of kings was called into question last week when The Post broke details of his crumbling marriage to luscious, 34-year-old Playboy pinup Sonia Flores.