NEW YORK — The bloodhound drew the loudest cheers. The Portie came with presidential connections. And the Irish water spaniel tried to earn another win for Seattle in the Super Bowl — of dogs, that is.
    A little wire fox terrier called Sky stood in their way.
    The 5-year-old Sky won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club on Tuesday night, finishing off a season in which she was ranked the nation's No. 1 dog.
    Handler Gabriel Rangel scooped up Sky in one arm after she was picked as America's top dog. He kissed judge Betty Regina Leininger's hand as the title was awarded inside a nearly full Madison Square Garden.
    Rangel may've learned that trick from his dog.
    "Her personality is she loves to kiss people and she connects with everybody," Rangel said.
    This was Sky's 129th best in show ribbon overall — she became a Triple Crown winner in dogdom, having previously taken the National Dog Show and the AKC Eukanuba event.
    And it was the 14th time a wire fox terrier has won at Westminster. No other breed has won more than eight.
    The winner with the ginger-and-white coat and terrier goatee beat out an impressive lineup in the final ring. Joining Sky were a standard poodle, a Cardigan Welsh corgi and a miniature pinscher, along with the bloodhound, Portuguese water dog and Irish water spaniel.
    "She has the 'it' factor. She owned this night," Leininger said.
    The standard poodle named Ally was chosen as the runner-up.
    Sky sat still backstage alongside the prized silver bowl after the biggest win in her career. By the weekend, the pooch might be pooped.
    Sky was scheduled to tour the morning TV news shows Wednesday, eat a steak lunch at famed Manhattan restaurant Sardi's and also go up the Empire State Building.