He wasn't in Rachel Alexandra's or Zenyatta's leagues either...when he was racing under their ideal conditions. But under his own ideal conditions, in the slop at 10f or more in NY, he was a superior racehorse.
Perhaps a sloppy track will provide the necessary leverage, but anything at 10f or more seems non-ideal for American Pharoah.
I dont think their is a 3 yer old colt that can run 12f's fast never mind well