Buffalo Raceway’s program this Saturday night (February 27) is the track’s best card of the season thus far. The 12-dash slate will carry $116,500 in purse money and will see one of the top drivers on the continent make his return to the race bike.

The evening will mark the return of Jim Morrill Jr., as he begins his 2016 campaign. It's safe to say he's not easing into the year, as he is slated to drive in 11 of 12 races. Morrill Jr. won 264 races last year and more than $5.4 million in purses.

The featured race is the $24,000 final of the popular Niatross Knockout Claiming Series, which will also feature a $10,000 consolation event. Bolstering the program will be the highly competitive $10,000 Open Pace as well.

Also appearing at the Hamburg half-mile oval will be driver Bruce Aldrich Jr., who sits in eighth place nationally in victories this year with 65. He was fourth in 2015 with 663.

After three consecutive weeks of eliminations, the Niatross finale (Race 8) has eight combatants ready to go at it for the title.

Mach It Paid (to be driven by Jim McNeight) is the 5-2 morning line favourite and will start from Post 4. He has finished either first or second in all six starts in 2016.

Flashy Trick drew the rail with current Buffalo Raceway leading driver David McNeight III and has been installed at 7-2. The seven-year-old gelding has won two legs in the series, including a wire-to-wire trip in 1:58 last week in the semi-finals.

Beechwood Wayne is riding a two-race win streak, but has Post 7. Drew Monti is slated to be in the bike, and the duo have been pegged as 5-1 shots.

Others in the race include Midas Blue Chip (Truman Gale), Delightful Caitlin (Ron Beback Jr.), Tymal Torch (Ray Fisher Jr.), M G Jade (Morrill Jr.) and First Of Fun (Aldrich Jr.).

The consolation race will see 5-2 morning line entrant Aberarder Smitty start from the rail with Morrill Jr. Aberarder Smitty took a four-race win streak into last week's semi-finals, but finished fifth, and was thus relegated to the consolation.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)