American Pharoah, with Victor Espinoza aboard, after winning the Preakness. Will he be Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year”?

All hail the Pharoah.

American Pharoah has been named Sports Illustrated readers’ “Sportsman of the Year.” The SI staff’s choice will be announced tomorrow on SI.com and NBC’s “Today” show.

AP received 47 percent of the vote. The World Series’ winning Kansas City Royals garnered 29 percent, while soccer star Lionel Messi earned 6 percent. Tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic finished ninth.

As for those who keep saying that a horse can’t be a “sportsman,” here it is:

Triple Crown
Breeders’ Cup Classic, part of the Grand Slam along with the Crown
Personable as hell

’Nough said.