A 2-year-old Beagle named Uno could finally revenge his breed by winning America's number-one dog show for the first time in the show’s history, after placing among the leading candidates for Best in Show this year.

Uno, who has already earned 32 best in show titles and finished 2007 as the sixth-ranked show dog in the country, started his mission on Monday when breed and group judging began for the 2,627 dogs which entered in the United States' second-longest continuously held sporting event at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Best in Show honors will be awarded Tuesday night. The best in show award has been presented 100 times at Westminster and a beagle has never won.

"Great show dogs often have an air about them. It's like this is their world and we're just living in it," Westminster TV host David Frei, was quoted by ABC as saying. "But beagles want to be in our world."

"To some, a beagle may not look as spectacular as the Afghan hound, flying around the ring with all that hair," Frei added.

The playful 15-inch with pleading eyes and plenty of tail-wagging clearly became the early crowd favorite as he took a flying leap at one of handler Aaron Wilkerson’s treats.

"To have the general public see an average dog going and competing and actually winning would send a signal that everyone can do it," said Eddie Dziuk, one of Uno's co-owners.

Beagles have been the only breed consistently ranked in the Top 10 among the American Kennel Club's list of the most popular dogs since 1915. "You think of a beagle and you think of Snoopy, and how can you pass that up?" Wilkerson explained.

Four new breeds, recently recognized by the American Kennel Club, made their debut at Westminster this year. They are the Plott hound, the Tibetan Mastiff, the Beauceron, and the Swedish Vallhund.

"These four breeds have been around a long time, but it just took them a little time to get recognized, Frei said.”One reason people watch the show is for diversity - this year, there are 169 breeds and varieties, which is more than you see on your daily walk to the park."